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PIONEER RECORD 



REMINISCENCES 



EARLY SETTIiERg AND SETTLEMENT 



ROSS COUNTY, OHIO. 



By ISAAC J. FINLEY and RUFUS PUTNAM. 



CINCINNATI: 

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHORS BY ROBERT CLARKE & CO. 
1871. 



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PREFACE. 

In emleavorlng to accomplish faithfully what is 
GOJitained in this worh, it has been found that notwith- 
standing its nan-ow scope, it has involved considerahle 
time, expense, labor, and dijficulties, visiting, as we 
have, all the most noted forts, circles, mounds, camps, 
caves, cliffs, etc., within the county. We have endeav- 
ored to portray the toils, hardships, and privations of 
a pioneer life, when nothing but dense deep forests, 
inhabited only by wild, ferocious beasts, and bloody 
savages, covered the land: when the only habitation was 
the lude wigivam of the aborigines; when the hoivl of 
wolves, and scream of panthers, the hum of wild bees, 
the hissing and rattle of the poisonous snaJce, the gobble 
of the wild turkey, and the shrill whistle of the red 
hunter, constituted all the music that broke the solemn 
stillness of the backwoods. The first brave and hardy 
pioneers lived to see those forests melt away before the 
tide of industry, and fields of golden grain spring up to 
adorn the efforts of the husbandman with abundant har- 
vests. Alas ! those pioneers, the brave, enterprising men 
who made their homes first in the western land, with few 
exceptions, have passed away. Their names, at least, 
should be remembered by those who now reap the fruits of 
their labors. 



CONTENTS. 

Boss County, Iutrodii,oUon, 5 

Huntington Township, 8 

Franklin Township, 34 

Twin Toiunship, S9 

Buckskin Township, 6o 

Paxton Township, 75 

Liberty Toivnship, 84 

Jefferson Township, 03 

Deer field Township, ■ ■ ■ PQ 

Colerain Township, IQQ 

Union Township, IQa 

Harrison Township, IQQ 

Springfield Township, m 

Green Township, 77,5 

Concord Township, 120 

Scioto Township, 128 

Paint Township, 7^7 



PIONEER RECORD 



OF 



ROSS COUNTY, OHIO. 



Inti^oduction, 

A few still live who were among the first pioneers of this 
neighborhood. They, perhaps, are the only ones who can fully 
appreciate the earl}^ home life among these hills and valleys. 
Only those who first cleared off these rough and sterile hills, 
who erected the first rough cabins, with their clapboard or bark 
roofs and puncheon floors, with blankets and quilts for doors 
and oiled paper for window-glass, with chimneys built of split 
sticks and mud, often not higher than their heads, can now, by 
contrast, value properly the comforts of a good modern home. 
Only those who have grubbed the thick underbrush and sap- 
lings; who have used the ax in deadening and felling the heavy 
timber, the maul and wedge in making the first rails; who have 
chopped up the trees, piled the brush, and then been smoked 
almost blind while burning the logs and brush, with fingers 
and hands bruised and burned, and arms begrimed with smoke 
and dust, and clothes torn from their backs, can have any idea of 
the pleasure there is in contemplating a beautiful, smooth lawn, 
without a stump or log. None but those who have held the first 
plow, amid roots, stum^ss, stones, and trees, while the faithful 
team was pulling and jerking it along, with the roots breaking 



Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 



and flying back against the plowman's shins, beating and bruis- 
ing them from the knees down, can really enjoy the delight that 
this same plowman feels while holding the plow as it moves 
slowly along, turning the soil up to the genial raj's of the sun, 
without a root or stump to obstruct it. Only those who have 
struggled for scanty crops among these clearings and upon the 
rough and sterile hill-sides, can pi'operly estimate the tilling of 
the same fields of later years. Only those who have had to con- 
vey little sacks of corn on horseback, over winding cow-paths, 
along the sides of the hills, across the ravines and valleys, to the 
mill, there to wait for his grist, in order that his family might 
have some hasty-pudding for their evening meal, can appreciate 
the variety of bread, the abundance of bread material, and the 
conveniences of mills in our land. The little boy, often less than 
ten years old, would frequently, while going up the steep banks, 
feel his sack slipping from under him, or hanging too heavily 
on one side, and then he felt desolate enough. Manj^ such 
calamities these little pioneers had to meet. The writer of this 
sketch, even in his day, has experienced several such mishaps 
on the way to mill, and sometimes had to wait for hours on the 
road, until some one came along and assisted in replacing the 
sack. 

Mills were sometimes out of the question, and then the 
mortar and pestle would have to be resorted to. This was one 
of the most primitive articles of the country, and was made 
in the most primitive style. A log of some hard timber, about 
four feet long, and twenty inches in diameter, was squared at 
both ends ; one end rested on the ground, while uj)on the other 
a small fire was kindled, so as to burn deepest into the center'. 
In this way a cavity was formed, called a mortar, sufficient to 
hold a peck of corn. Then with a pestle, made heavy by attach- 
ing thereto an iron wedge, the corn was beaten until the bran 
or hull came off. This process was assisted by adding a little 
scalding water from time to time. After it became thoroughly 
dry, and the bran was blown away, this hominy, by being well 
cooked, made an excellent substitute for bread. , 



Introduction. 



None but those who were deprived of an edneation by the 
want of a common school system can realize the gi^eat benefit 
of our popular mode of instruction. Our pioneers had no school 
system, and many of them hardly knew what a school was. 
The children of the present day, who now have comfortable 
school-houses and good teachers, and all provided at the public 
expense, have but little idea of the desolation and ignorance 
which prevailed prior to the commencement of our great com- 
mon school system. 

The territory now forming Eoss county was well timbered 
at the time of its first settlement, abounding in the usual variety 
and extent of forest trees— the sugar, beech, hickory, walnut, 
poplar, and the oak of the different varieties, being the princi- 
pal. The soil in places is very good; the larger proportion, 
however, is hilly and not very productive, but is very well 
adapted to the growing of fruit, grapes, etc., and the citizens, 
of later years, have turned their attention to the raising of fruit. 
One can scarcely pass a farm but he sees orchards and vineyards 
being set out, and some of them are quite extensive. 



Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 



Huntington Township, 



Present Civil Officers of Township. 

Justices of the Peace, I. J. Finley, Samuel Einehart, and 
A. J. Pummell ; Trustees, Joseph Einger, Samuel Einehart, and 
Joseph Grubb ; Treasurer, William Combs ; Clerk, Jno. W. Kel- 
lough ; Constables, William Wilson and John Lee; Land Ap- 
praiser, Thomas DeLong. Post-office, Hoopole, at Farmersville. 

Huntington has never furnished any county officers under 
its present organization, except I. J. Finley, who represented, in 
part, Eoss County in the Ohio Legislature in 1868-9; and it has 
never had a representative in the State's prison, I believe. 

In Mcintosh's Memoirs in 1789, page 13. 

Daniel Boone encamped on Paint creek, September 7, 1789, 
near the Eock rapids, on his route from Manchester to Fort 
Clark, on Mad river. Gen. Putnam, on April 15th of the same 
year, encamped at the same place, on his route to Vincennes to 
treat with the Indians. 

Old Pioneers. 

John Cochenour, stone-mason, was in the war of 1812, now 
dead. Mr. Cochenour was of great service to the new settlers 
in building chimneys for their cabins, etc. One evening, while 
coming home from his work, he was belated and it grew very 
dark; when within a mile from home, five large wolves attacked 
him, and he having left his gun at home was forced to take 
shelter in a large dogwood tree that stood near his path, and 
there remain until the morning light drove his adversaries 
away. 



Huntington 'Township. 



Peter Streevey emigrated to Ohio at an early day from 
Pennsylvania; was in the war of 1812 as teamster; now dead; 
was a resident of Huntington township over sixty years; was a 
great hunter. He and a Mr. Eolston, of whom mention will be 
made in another place, started out with their guns and dogs 
one morning on a bear hunt. After being out for some time, 
being near what is called the Bald Knob, they heard the dogs 
barking, and going up to them they found them barking up a 
large chesnut tree which had been broken off at the top, leav- 
ing the stump some forty or fifty feet high and hollow at the 
top, and about twenty feet up there was another hole in the side 
of the stump. The two hunters thumped the tree with the butts 
of their guns, when a bear stuck his head out and Streevey fired, 
and the bear fell back into the stump. Streevej^, supposing the 
bear dead, and being a good climber, climbed up the stump, 
taking with him a stout pole which he tied to his body with 
his suspenders, and upon arriving at the top commenced thrust- 
ing his pole down on the bear, when, to his surprise, bruin ran 
up and out at the top and down one side and Streevey on the 
other; the dogs met him at the foot of the tree, and one large 
dog of Streevey's locked jaws with the bear, and Streevey, in the 
excitement, fired at the bear, but only wounded him. He hastily 
reloaded his gun and snapped, but his gun being of the flint 
lock, as all were in those days, the powder being damp, his gun 
missed fire, when he renewed the px-iming and killed the bear ; 
after which, he reascended the stump and found two cubs, 
which they killed. During their day's hunting they killed 
seven bears, among them a very large one, which had taken 
shelter behind the roots of a large white oak tree which had 
been blown down. Mr. Streevey, during his lifetime, killed a 
great many deer, wolves, turkeys, etc. When young he mar- 
ried a Miss Tabitha Thomas, whose father emigrated to Ohio 
in very early times, and lived for a short time in Chillicothe 
with his family, when but two or three log cabins had been 
built in the place. One day, Mrs. Streevey, when nine or ten 
years old, was left with her sister in charge of the cabin, near 



lo Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 



the banks of the Scioto river, while their mother went to the 
river to wash their clothing. Several Indians came into the 
cabin and commenced cutting off slices of venison, which they 
found hanging up, and roasting it on the coals. The two young 
girls became frightened and ran under the bed; but after 
awhile they thought it would not do to let the redskins eat all 
their meat, so slipping out from their hiding-place, they ran down 
to their mother and informed her of what was going on ; where- 
upon the mother started for the house accompanied by a neigh- 
bor woman by the name of McMahan, I believe. On their way 
they armed themselves with clapboards, such as were used in 
those days for roofing. On entering the cabin they commenced 
clearing it of its intruders by lustily applying the boards to the 
naked backs of the redskins, which soon made them retreat in 
haste. Father Streevey and wife lived to a good old age, and 
died lamented and beloved by all who knew them. 

Robert Bishop's Reminiscences. 

Eobert Bishop emigrated to Ohio from Berkeley county. 
Virginia, in 1805, b}^ land, in wagons; has been a resident of 
Huntington township sixty-four years; still living; was in the 
war of 1812 under Capt. George Yoakem ; was second sergeant 
of his company; enlisted after Hull's surrender. The company 
went through Upper Sandusky ; belonged to the brigade of Gen. 
E. Tupper ; he received for his services fortj^ acres of land. When 
they first encamped, while their captain was gone to rejsort, one 
of their men went out to cut poles to build a tent; there was, a 
short distance from where they commenced to pitch their tents, 
a horse company encamped, and this man went on the grounds of 
the horse companj^, claimed and cut a pole, when he was arrested 
by them and put under guard ; they had him under a large oak 
tree and guarded by several men with their horse-pistols. 
When Capt. Yoakem returned, he asked Mr. Bishop what that 
meant, seeing the men standing around the tree with their pis- 
tols in hand. Mr. Bishop told the captain they had one of his 
men under arrest. When Yoakem heard this he drew his sword 



Huntington township. ii 

and ordered Bishop and another of his men to arm themselves 
with their guns and follow him, which they did ; they marched 
boldly up to where the man was under the tree, the guards 
standing around him with pistols in hand; Yoakem marched 
through the guards and taking the prisoner by the arm told 
him to go with him. The officers of the horse company ordered 
the arrest of the captain, which he soon found out. when he drew 
his men into line and ordered them to load their pieces. When 
the horse company saw the hostile appearance of Capt Yoak- 
em's company they drew back, and so the matter ended. 

Mr. Bishop relates another incident connected with his sol- 
dier life. One day several of the horse company started out on 
a reconnoitering expedition, and did not return until late in the 
night; sometime during the night some of the horses breaking 
loose from their riders, came dashing into camp, whereupon the 
whole camp was aroused ; a squad of the remaining company 
mounted their steeds, snatched their arras, which were stacked 
near by, and, loading them with buckshot, some having five or 
six shot in them, started out to look after the party which 
had not returned. Before going far, they met them returning, 
when they all came in together, the men restacking their arms. 
On the next morning one of the men was cleaning his gun; Mr. 
Bishop and another of the company were standing near by, 
when he sna]3ped it, the gun went off, the contents passing be- 
tween Mr. Bishop and the other soldier, whose name is forgotten, 
so close they both felt the wind of the balls as they passed, and 
striking a man standing near, killed him instantly, two balls 
passing through his body, and breaking the leg of another man 
named Hill, I believe. 

Mr. Bishop was a home hunter, and helped to kill many 
bears and wolves; was justice of the peace for many years, 
besides holding several other township offices. 

Henry Bishop, father of Robert, emigrated to Ohio at the 
same time with Robert ; purchased land in Huntington town- 
ship in 1806, and died in 1820, at the age of ninety-eight. 
Jacob and George Vincentheller were old hunters. Paul Stree- 



1 1 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

vey was in the Eevolutionary war. David and Jacob Toops were 
both in the war of 1812. John Lewis and George Yincentheller 
were the first settlers on what is known as the Alum Cliffs. John 
Methias was justice of the peace and county commissioner, in 
the first organization of the township, for some time. John 
Scantlin was in the Indian war of 1791, under Gen. St. Clair. 
John Yoakem was under Gen. Tupper, in the war of 1812. Job 
Haynes and George Grove were in the war of 1812, under Capt. 
William Keyes, of Huntington township, and were in Hull's 
surrender. Henry Long was sergeant in Capt. Elliott's home 
company. David Elliott was also in the war of 1812. George 
Euffner, whose biography will appear in another place, was in the 
war of 1812; was a great Indian fighter, and was in Hull's surren- 
der. George Houseman was in the war of 1812, and under 
Hull at the time of his surrender. Stanley Seyraore was in the 
Indian war of 1791. Daniel Toops was in the war of 1812; 
weaver by trade, and farmer; now dead. David Shoemaker 
was in the war of 1812, under Capt. Keyes. Daniel Grubb was 
in the war of 1812; was a home hunter ; killed several bears on 
his farm during his lifetime ; lived to be very old ; was an 
excellent farmer and a good citizen. 

List of Old Pioneers furnished by Mrs. Mary W. Finley. 

Isaac Jordan, in war of 1812; now dead. Eichard Elliott 
emigrated from Ireland at an early day, and settled in the town- 
ship ; was in war of 1812 ; a weaver by trade. William Sadler. 
Jacob Seeleg was in war of 1812; started to go as substitute, 
but on arriving at Chillicothe the man he was going for had 
obtained some one in his place, when he volunteered in Captain 
Keyes' company, but, being a good gunsmith, was detailed to 
work at that business. Alex. Monroe. Henry Wilt was in the 
war of 1812; still living; wagon-maker by trade. Eichard 
Honold, Thos. McCann, George Meyers, in the war of 1812 as 
teamsters; all dead. David Shotts, William McCann, Jos. Offort, 
Sr., Martin Howard, Nancy Park, John McCalley, David Mur- 
phy, Jacob Maurey, Peter Lightle (who served many years as 



Huntington 'Township. 13 

justice of the peace, and in other township offices), Frederick 
Baker, John Kilbourne, Peter Stagner, Michael Thomas (was 
an early settler, and a great hunter, in connection with Peter 
Streeveyand Benjamin Rolston, whose names appear in another 
place in this work). Henry Miskel, an old colored man, was 
among the first settlers, and deserves some notice. He rendered 
great service, daring the war of 1812, in assisting the women 
and children in taking care of the harvests during the general 
call, as harvest came on during the men's absence. I believe 
all the white men in the township at that time, except, perhaps, 
three, had to go. Miskel was a very large, stout man, and 
worked almost night and day in securing the crops of his 
neighbors. He lived to be very old. He did not know his own 
age. 

BenniugWentworth, father of Mrs. Finley, and grandfather 
of Hon. I. J. Finley, served five years in the war of the Revo- 
lution as drummer, and three years in the French war; was a 
native of the State of Maine. He emigrated to Ohio in 1816, 
served for many j^ears as justice of the peace, and was, I be- 
lieve, the second male school-teacher in the township, a Mr. 
Gilfillen being the first. School was taught in a log cabin, with 
puncheon floor and oiled paper for glass lights. Phebe, his 
wife, was the first female teacher in the township. All the 
schools in those early days were sustained by subscription. Mrs. 
Wentworth organized, I believe, the first Sabbath -school, which 
she taught for several years at her own house. Mr. Wentworth 
and wife were members of the Baptist Church. They lived to 
a good old age, and died lamented and beloved by all. 

A. P. Wentworth, the eldest son of Benning and Phebe 
Wentworth, was an earlj^ settler, and lived in the township for 
many years. He served during a long period as justice of the 
peace, clerk of township, etc. Was still living in Kansas, at 
last accounts, and holding office. Benjamin Wentworth, another 
son, was one of the first in the township who kept a store. He 
served for several years as justice of the peace, etc. ; now dead. 



14 Pioneer Record of Ross Counly, Ohio. 

Names of Pioneers and Incidents furnished by Mrs. Mary Hester. 

Jiimes Finley, the father of Mrs. Hester, emigrated from 
Irehind in 1811 ; his family consisted of himself, his wife, and 
seven children — five sons and two daughters: John, father of 
Hon. I. J. Finle}', and for many years justice of the peace, and 
who held other township offices, died in 1858; James; Moses, for 
many years township treasurer; William, served through^the 
Mexican war, and died several years since of cholera in Cincin- 
nati ; Isaac, carpenter by trade, now dead; daughters, Mary 
(Mrs. Hester) and Jane. They traveled from New Haven to 
Pittsburg, over the Alleghany mountains, in wagons; from 
there they came in a boat to Manchester, and lived near West 
Union, on the banks of Brush creek, for a short time, when the 
country was little more than a wilderness, the nearest neighbor 
being three miles away. They came to Huntington township 
soon after. Seth Vanmeter, a noted backwoodsman and hunter, 
killed a large panther a short distance from his residence; it 
measured nine feet from tip to tip. It was not an unusual 
thing to scare up a bear in those early days, or to see droves of 
wild turkeys crossing j^our path, or herds of deer galloping over 
the hills, or to hear the wolves howling around at night. Snakes 
were very numerous. Mrs. Hester killed a large rattlesnake 
as it was passing through the cabin door; it had sixteen rattles 
on its tail. 

Benjamin Eolston, the noted hunter, while out on his farm 
one morning saw quite a large bear, which he and his dogs at- 
tacked. The bear fought until she put the dogs to flight, when 
Eolston dispatched her with his gun. Mr. Solston, while out 
one very cold night, lost his way and perished near his own home. 
Thus died one of the bravest hunters of his time. 

Mrs. Hester is now living near the old Indian trail leading 
from Chillicothe to Portsmouth. Eeuben Elliott emigrated from 
Virginia at a very early day ; was a soldier in the Eevolutionary 
war ; died at the age of ninety, and was buried with the honors 
of war. Eobert McCann was a soldier in the Eevolution ; 
fought under General Washington at Brandywine ; kept hotel 



Huntington 'Township. 15 

in early days — sign, Three Kegs. Peter Clark, emigrated to 
Ohio from Kentucky ; he was slightly deranged, and was a great 
hunter; would often fire the woods in large circles, for the pur- 
pose of shooting deer and other wild animals. Benjamin Ma- 
lone emigrated to Ohio from Kentucky about the year 1800; 
was bearer of dispatches from Chillicotho to Detroit after Hull's 
surrender; he passed through Columbus before there was a 
house erected in the place ; is still living. William Heness em- 
igrated to Ohio from Virginia; was a member of an independ- 
ent company in the war of 1812, and took an active part in 
the defense of Fort Stephenson. David Ogden served "three 
years in the war of 1812. James Gladstone emigrated from 
Scotland at a very early day ; traveled in a wagon from New 
York to Pittsburg with his wife ; floated down the Ohio river 
in a canoe to Portsmouth ; they traveled from Portsmouth to 
Chillicothe on foot; settled in Huntington township when quite 
a wilderness. James Wilson came from Kentucky to Ohio ; 
enlisted for the war of 1812 at the age of fifteen years ; he is a 
cooper by trade, and is still living. Stacey Dcvinney, mill- 
wright by trade; fought as a soldier in the battle of New Or- 
leans, under General Jackson ; was a great admirer of the old 
hero. At the time Jackson was elected president in 1828, Hun- 
tington township gave him but eleven votes, I believe. At this 
election John H. Kobinson, or better known as "Hoopole " Rob- 
inson, made a bet of a barrel of whisky with Devinney that he 
(Jackson) would not get that many votes, Devinney winning 
the bet, of course. 

Aaron Vanscoifs Reminiscences. 

Mr. Aaron Vanscoy emigrated from Virginia to Ohio, in 
1804, with his father, Aaron, Sr., in wagons; they settled in 
Gallia county, and remained there five or six years ; from there 
they came to Eoss County, and settled in Huntington township. 
He was in the war of 1812, under Captain Northup, Colonel 
Safford, and General Ed. Tupper; served six months; he be- 
longed to a rifle company, and traveled on foot to Urbana ; he 



1 6 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

never received any pay, although promised six dollars a month ; 
he furnished his own arms, clothing, blankets, etc. He has often, 
when the mud and water were knee deep, made his bed by cut- 
ting a pile of brush, and spreading his blanket on top of it. 
He afterward received a warrant for one hundred and sixty 
acres of land, which was all the compensation he ever had for 
his services. He is still living, at the age of eighty-two. He 
has seen hundreds of Indians in the early days in the township ; 
he was a hunter, and has killed many deer, and helped to kill 
several bears, wolves, turkeys, etc., which were very plentiful 
when' he first settled in the township. He has heard the screams 
of the panther where he now lives, on what is called Indian 
creek. He used to trap a great many wolves on his farm in 
early days. 

Enoch Vanscoy was in the employ of the government dur- 
ing the war of 1812, driving hogs; is still living. Wm. Haynes, 
Eev. Isaac Murphy, of the Eaptist denomination, John Camp- 
bell, Jacob Day, Benjamin Smith, and David Eidgeway, were 
in the war of 1812. 

Henry NeborgalVs Reminiscences. 

Mr. Neborgall's father emigrated to Ohio,> in 1808, with his 
family, consisting of six children, to-wit : Jacob, John, Cathe- 
rine, George, James, and Henry, ray informant, who has been a 
resident of Huntington township fifty-three years. He has seen 
many deer, turkeys, wolves, etc. He says, one day, when quite 
a lad, he was sent out by his father to haul wood near the house, 
and while thus employed he saw a gang of large wolves after 
the sheep in the field, and tried to get the dog to attack them ; 
but the dog seemed to be frightened and would not go near 
them. He then took a billet of wood and drove them ofP him- 
self, and saved the sheep. At another time, Mr. Neborgall's 
wife heard the screaming of a child in the woods at no great 
distance, and ran to see what was the matter. Upon arriving 
in sight of the child, she found it to be a cousin of Mr. Nebor- 
gall, named Waggey, who had been sent on an errand to a 



Huntington 'Township. 17 

neighbor's house, and, to her horror and surprise, she saw that 
five large wolves had attacked the poor little fellow. About the 
time Mrs. Neborgall arrived, a Mr. Peter Cockerell came to 
their aid, and they drove the wolves away, thus, in all proba- 
bility, saving the lad's life. On another occasion, Mr. Nebor- 
gall and a Mr. Joseph Haynes started one night to Chillicothe, 
with their marketing, on horseback. After jogging along for 
some time, they heard what they supposed to be the voice of 
some one hallooing who had lost his way in the thick -woods, 
which were very common in those days. They answered sev- 
eral times, and the sound came nearer and nearer. The trav- 
elers were soon satisfied that it was no human voice, but that 
of the panther. They put whip to their horses, the screams 
still following nearer and nearer, until they came to a clearing 
where another neighbor lived, on the Limestone road, when 
their unwelcome follower left them, for which they were very 
thankful. Mr. Neborgall says he was very well acquainted with 
William Hewitt, the hermit. Mr. Neborgall lived near him 
during his hermitage, and visited him often. Mr. Hewitt came 
from Virginia about the year 1808, I think. He first hunted 
awhile on the Big Kanawha, wiiere he killed bears and deer, 
and sold their skins to the hands at the salt works on that river. 
He used the bearskin for his bed, and had a shanty made from 
the bark of trees. When I first saw Hewitt, forty-five j'cars ago, 
he occupied a shanty made of bark on Crooked creek, near Mr. 
Daniel Shotts', not far Irom Farmersville. He lived there during 
the summer, and when cold weather came on he removed to a 
log cabin which had been built and roofed, on the land near 
James Toops. The cabin had no doors or windows cut out, and 
was erected on sideling ground, one side being raised some dis- 
tance from the ground ; the hermit dug the earth away on this 
side for an entrance. Here he lived for about four years, em- 
ploying his time mostly by hunting, and sustaining himself on 
the meat of the bear and deer. One Saturday evening, while 
returning to his cabin near the Pinnacle Knob, he killed a small 
deer of the "toehead " species, as he called it. He tied its legs 



Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 



together, swung it around his neck, and started on his way. 
After going a short distance he saw a very large buck, and, as 
he expressed himself, he "blazed away," and killed him. He 
tied this one's legs together, as before, and thus, with his two 
deer swung around his neck, he marched home. From this 
cabin he removed to the celebrated cave on the Portsmouth 
pike. Mr. Neborgall says he often visited him at his cave, and 
he, in return, would visit at Mr. Neborgall's house, and was very 
sociable after once becoming acquainted. He told me, says 
Mr. Neborgall, that he came from Virginia, and told me often 
the cause of his leaving and living as he did, not in just these 
words, but gave me to understand the cause to be this: He was 
married, and one morning he started on a tramp from which he 
did not expect to return for several days ; but from some cause 
he returned that night, and on arriving at his home he found, 
to his surprise, another man occujiying his couch with his wife. 
His first thought was to kill them both, but on further reflec- 
tion concluded he could live alone, and enjoy himself in the 
wilds of the forest, so he left for Ohio. He never returned to 
Virginia, but used often to speak of his wife. His mode of pre- 
paring his vension was to take the fleshy parts of the hams, 
and then build a fire of wood and let it burn to coals; he would 
then drive sticks in the ground around the bed of coals, and 
place thereon the flesh thus taken from the bones, letting it diy 
very hard, This he would use for bread ; the bony pieces he 
would broil on the coals for his meat. He was a verj^ large 
and muscular man, and seeminglj^ intelligent. His clothing 
consisted of skins dressed by himself, which gave him the ap- 
pearance of a wild man. He had in his cave his Bible, which 
he read during the greater portion of the Sabbath day. He was 
never known to hunt on that day. Mr. Neborgall says the last 
talk he had with Hewitt was a short time before he became sick 
so as to be confined to bed. He had quite a bad cough, and 
said he had gone down on the Scioto bottoms for some purpose, 
and was belated and overtaken by a very severe rain-storm ; 
it growing very dark he concluded he could not find his way, 



Huntington Township. 19 

so he built ji fire in the forks of a large fallen hickory tree in 
the pasture of Mr. James Davis, and there awaited the return 
of morning. It rained on him all night, from which exposure 
he took a cold that finally put an end to this truly singular man. 
The following incident is related of him: A gentleman quite 
well dressed rode up to the front of his cave one morning, and 
without ceremonj^ saluted him in this manner: "Well, old 
fellow, I have come to get the history of your life." Hewitt re- 
plied : "You leave here quick, or I will give you a history of 
hell." He left. 

Mrs. Mary Hester, who was personally acquainted Avith 
Mr. Hewitt for several years, says he was a large, portly man, 
rather good looking, dressed in buckskin of his own make; he 
carried a long flint-lock rifle and a tomahawk, and depended on 
his rifle for subsistence. He would sometimes exchange his ven- 
ison for salt and ammunition. He was an extraordinary singer 
and whistler. He occupied a small cave situated on the Ports- 
mouth pike. There is a small mound erected to his memory 
above the cave. He was taken sick in his cave, but did not die 
there, being removed to Waverly before his death, where he 
was kindly cared for until he breathed his last. He was a 
peaceable, inoff'ensive man, of temperate habits, and generally 
beloved b}^ all who were acquainted with him. 

The cave is under a shelving rock which juts out about fif- 
teen feet in the center, and extends fifteen feet each way from 
the center, and is about five feet high in front of the cave. The 
rocks have been torn away to some extent in constructing the 
Chillicothe and Portsmouth pike, which passes immediately in 
front of the cave. Under this shelving rock is another one, 
which was used by the hermit to build his couch upon. The 
cave is partly inclosed by a circular wall. The following is the 
inscription on his monument, erected by T. S. Hammon : 

Wm. Hewitt, the Hermit, occupied this cave fourteen years, 
while all was a wilderness around him. He died in 1834, 
aged seventy years. 



20 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

William Chestnut, Sr.'s, Eeminiscences. 

Ml'. Chestnut emigrated to the Northwestern Territory 
in 1798, with his father's family, consisting of five children, 
to-wit: Daniel, William, Margaret, Polly, and Benjamin. Daniel 
Chestnut was in the \Yhisk3^ Insurrection under General Wash- 
ington. His grandfather emigrated from Scotland, and his 
grandmother from Ireland to Portsmouth, Ohio ; from there 
they came on foot b}' the old Indian trail to what is now Chilli- 
cothe, and settled. The}' lived there four years, and then moved 
on the hill where they lived three years. He afterward pur- 
chased two hundred and sixty acres of land from Genei'al 
Massie on Indian creek, in Huntington township. The first 
abode of Mr. Chestnut was an old waste house, where he lived 
ten days. The bed was made of crotches and clapboards. The 
second dwelling-place, a tent made from an old wagon-cover. 
The cabin he built on the land he purchased fi-om General 
Massie was sixteen by eighteen feet, and seven feet high, pun- 
cheon floor, old-fashioned style. Their food consisted of wild 
meat, such as bear, deer, turkey, etc., and hominy. The hominy 
was made in a wooden mortar or hand-mill. Every one would 
have to await his turn at this mill. Mr. Chestnut was a great 
hunter; he has killed all kinds of wild game. He had started, 
to Chillicothe with his team at one titne, and when on the way he 
met a very lai-ge bear, and concluded he was too good a prize 
to be lost. He took out his lead-horse and gave chase, carrying 
his rifle with him, and ran the bear some distance into the 
woods, where he succeeded in shooting him, after which he 
dressed and weighed him, finding that he made four hundred 
l^ounds net meat, perhaps the largest bear ever killed in Ohio. 
The meat was equally divided between himself and a neighbor, 
Wm. Thompson, and salted down. Wolves were very numerous 
in those days. Farmers who were lucky enough to have sheep 
had to build high pens for their protection. During one night 
Mr. Chestnut lost forty head of his best sheep by those sneak- 
ing rascals. The bears would frequently kill their hogs and 
carry them ofi' into the dense forests. Snakes were also very 



Huntington 'Township. 



numerous. Mr. Chestnut was once bitten by a copperhead, 
which confined him to his bed for several weeks. He served as 
the first justice of the peace for a term of seventeen years- 
Here I will give an incident that occurred in those early days, 
during his official term: A Mr. Ogden was in Chillicothe one 
day on some business, in company with a man calling himself 
Shears, who, in conversation with Mr. Ogden, told him that he 
wished to purchase a small piece of land in the vicinity of Chil- 
licothe. Ogden told him he would sell him a piece, when Shears 
proposed to go home with him and look at the land. They 
started, Shears, having no horse, trudging along on foot. Get- 
ting late, Ogden proposed that his companion should get up and 
ride behind him, which proposition was thankfully accepted. 
It seems that Mr. Ogden had some money tied up in the corner 
of his handkerchief. All money in those days was gold and 
silver, and could not be so handily carried as we do our 
greenbacks in pocket-books now. Ogden had twelve or fifteen 
dollars in his handkerchief, and had put it in his coat-pocket, 
but did not think of such a thing as his friend behind him ab- 
stracting it. They traveled home together, and when they 
entered the cabin Mr. Ogden's children came fondling around 
him. After being seated, he felt for his money, and found 
that handkerchief and all was gone. Mr. Ogden went to Es- 
quire Chestnut's, procured a warrant, and had Shears arrested, 
when he confessed the crime and gave up the money. The 'Squire 
ordered him to be committed to jail. Shears told the constable, 
after they had started on their way, he would rather take thirty 
lashes than go to jail. The night being very dark, the constable 
concluded that was the easiest way to get relieved of his pris- 
oner and consented. Mr. Chestnut was directed to cut the 
switches; whereupon he went to the woods near by, and soon 
returned with five stout switches or withes. They then tied 
the prisoner to a mulberry tree near by, and Mr. Ogden com- 
menced to apply them lustily to the prisoner's back. He would 
hit him a few cuts and then bathe his back with whisky, and 
exhort the prisoner to better deeds. After applying the thirty 



22 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 



lashes, save one, the prisoner was untied and permitted to go 
his way, if not a better man, perhaps wiser. 

Mr. Chestnut was captain of the militia for several years, 
and died April 23, 1851, aged eighty-three years. He 
helped to cut out the old Zane trace, now the Limestone 
road. He and a Mr. "William Eichie were chosen, and acted 
as spies to watch the movements of the Indians in the upper 
end of the county, while Colonel Barnes was stationed at 
Waverly with his men. The Colonel wished to get some orders 
from Chillicothe, and started on his horse, and the two spies on 
their mission on foot. When on the dividing ridge, a large 
turkey ran across their path. Richie threw off his blanket and 
gave chase. Barnes, in the meantime, coming up, saw the 
blanket lying in the path, and, supposing there were Indians 
about, wheeled his horse, and started back full tilt, when 
Chestnut, who was standing under a tree, sheltering himself 
from the rain — it raining hard — hailed him, and explained 
matters, when each went his way. 

William Chestnut, at the breaking out of the war of 1812, vol- 
unteered the 9th day of May, 1813, in Captain William Rutley's 
company, under Colonel Denny, which was in General Tupper's 
brigade, and on the 10th of the same month started for Fort 
Meigs, and served about ninety days, when he returned to Chilli- 
cothe, and was there dismissed. He received a land warrant 
in 1824, and was paid eight dollars per month for his services. 
When a boy, Mr. Chestnut, in July, 1798, saw an Indian chief, 
Captain Johnny, shoot the war-chief Toa-willa-wa. The bullet 
entered his forehead, and scattered his brains for some distance 
around on the ground. His squaw was present at the time, 
and bemoaned her loss by tearing her hair and other demon- 
strations of her terrible sorrow. The chief was buried in his 
costume and armor. In 1798, an Indian, who was intoxicated, 
rode his horse round in a circle for some time. A white man 
by the name of Thompson was standing near, when the Indian 
exclaimed: "I killed Thompson's father and brothers," at 
which Thompson became so enraged he made for the Indian, 



Huntington Township. 23 

and dealt him a heavy blow upon the head, which felled him 
dead at his feet. This so enraged the Indians of the neighbor- 
hood that they demanded Thompson, that they might avenge 
their supposed wrongs. But Tiiompson managed to escape, 
and fled the country. The Indians hunted for him for twO 
long years, but Thompson did not return for seventeen years. 
Mr. Chestnut has been married twice. His last wife died 
October 24, 1869. He still lives on his farm with his grand- 
son, Josiah Chestnut. 

The following names of old pioneer settlers are furnished by 
Mr. Chestnut: Benjamin Chestnut, son of Daniel Chestnut, 
lives on his farm ; was two years old when his father landed 
in Ohio. Lemuel Chestnut, carj^enter, died at the age of sixty- 
seven. James Chestnut is living, and occupies the old home- 
stead. John Chestnut was a farmer; is now dead. Peter 
Cockerell is still living, but very frail; aged eighty years; 
William Lockwood, now dead ; William Selby, Sen., still living, 
and Larkin Selby; were all soldiers in the war of 1812. John 
Thompson was a great Indian killer in 1798. Hoeery McAllis- 
ter was in the war of 1812. Charles Chestnut was a famous 
hunter, Michael Thomas, whose name appears in another part 
of this work, was in the war of 1812, and in Wayne's campaign 
was one of the bravest men during the war, with Captain Keys, 
William Chandler, and Solomon Trego. Henry Montgomery 
emigrated to Ohio in 1797, and was drowned in Paint creek 
in 1800. George Funk was iii the war of 1812 ; also, Francis 
Kile, Heniy Strong, Lewis Wheaton, and Uriah Hurley. 

Old Resident Settlers. 

John Long, who served in the war of 1812, now dead, lived 
to a good old age. He held in his lifetime several town- 
ship ofiices, and was beloved and respected by all who 
knew him. John Bdgington lived in the township for many 
years; a good citizen; now dead. John Toops, shoemaker, 
is still living, and is very old. A. P. Riley, local preacher, 
is still living. Noah Hollis, still living, held several town- 



24 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

ship offices. Jacob Bishop, blacksmith and carpenter, held 
sevei-al township offices; now dead. Daniel Shotts, quite a 
home hunter in his younger days, is still living. John Men- 
denhall, an old citizen, is still living. Henry Haynes is still 
living. Michael T. Streevey, an old hunter, has killed as 
many deer and wild turkeys, in his day,. as any man of his 
age in the township; still living. William Thomas, a great 
hunter and fisherman, is still living. Jacob Sheets, tailor 
and farmer, is still living. .John Gribson was a great singer 
and a good citizen. Benjamin Henis, now quite frail, has held 
several township offices. Jacob Blessing is still living, but 
very poor in health. Moses Finley, for many yeai's township 
treasurer, has gone West. Richard Boycr, for mau}^ years 
justice of the peace and trustee of township. Andrew 
McCoUister, for many years justice of the peace, school 
teacher, etc., moved West some years ago; is still living. 
Robert Ralston, a great raiser of stock, etc., is still living. 
His father, whose name appears in another place in this 
work, was a great hunter. Richard and Robert Elliott 
are still living. Ebenezer Rozell, Sen., 1 believe, was in the 
war of 1812; dead for many years. Milbourn Palmer held 
several township offices; now dead. Enos Rinehart, grocer, 
and trustee of township for several years, is still living. 
Henry R. Bishop, trustee of township for several years, is now 
living, but has been confined to his bed for several years with 
rheumatism. T. C. Robinson, still living, has served as town- 
ship officer. David Nelson, still living, has held several town- 
ship offices. John Seelig held several township offices; was 
captain of militia, etc.; is still living. P. G-. Selby held town- 
ship offices; is still living. Samuel P. Long, trustee of town- 
ship for several years, is now keeping a hotel in Chillicothe. 
John Murphy is still living. B. S. Ruley, carpenter and farmer, 
for several years justice of the peace, trustee, etc., is living. 
John Clutz, farmer, is living. George Lytic, for many years 
constable, is yet living. John M. Haynes held several town- 
ship offices; living. James Toops, trustee of township for sev- 



Huntington Township. 2,5 

eral years, is living. ' Abram Streevey served several years 
as trustee of township ; living. Bartholomew Eeihle, a resi- 
dent for many years, is now in Minnesota. He emigrated at 
an early day from Germany, and was truly one of our best 
German citizens. Lawrence Lowery, farmer, emigi-ated to Ohio 
from Germany several years since; living. James Lenox, Sen., 
emigrated from Ireland; was several years a resident of Hun- 
tington township ; is quite aged ; yet living. James Lenox, Jr., 
served several years as township trustee; is living. Benning 
Wentworth, carpenter, a great marksman, hunter, and wrest- 
ler in boyhood, is now living near Lattaville. Samuel E. 
Posey, farmer, a Pennsylvanian b}^ birth, served as trustee of 
township. Francis Hester, German by birth, has been a resi- 
dent of the township for several years, a good citizen ; is still 
living. Daniel Recob has been dead for several years. David 
Miller, constable for several years, is now dead. Jacob Yan 
Gundy was constable for several years. Darken Selby was in 
the war of 1812 ; dead for several years. Simon Johnson, was 
drummer for militia during the war of 1812; still living. 
Henry Cramer was in the war of 1812 ; is still living. Also> 
John and William Miller. Hector Sanford emigrated to Ohio, in 
1797, from the District of Columbia, in a canoe, with his slave 
Thomas Watson. They landed at the big bend on the Scioto, 
above the mouth of Paint creek. His entire record will be 
given in full in another place. John England and Robert 
McCollister, and another whose name is not known, voted in 
the township for Andrew Jackson for President in 1S21, heonly 
receiving three votes in the township. 

David Shotts, father of Mrs. Margaret Bishop, emigrated to 
Ohio from Virginia in the year 1810; was in the Revolutionary 
war, and stood guard at Frederick city; was also in the Whisky 
insurrection. He died, in the year 1825, in the following manner: 
He had been away from home and was returning, when he was 
overtaken, near bis own home, by a severe thunder storm, and 
took shelter under a large oak tree, which was struck by light- 
ning; he was there found dead; there were seven other trees 



i6 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

struck near the spot, from appearances, at the same time. Mr. 
Shotts was quite a hunter, and in early days killed several 
bears, some two or three on his own farm. His familj^ con- 
sisted often children, to- wit: Catherine, Jacob, Elizabeth, Mar- 
garet, Hannah, Mary, Daniel, Sophia, Susan, and Jonas, all 
living except Catherine. 

Jacob Grubb was in the war of 1812. He came to his death, 
several years since, in the following manner: He and some two 
or three neighbors went into Paint creek to bathe, Grubb 
being a great swimmer. They were in the water sometime, 
when, as Grubb was swimming across a deep hole, he was seen 
to sink, and before he could bo rescued was drowned. It is sup- 
posed he was taken with cramp. 

George EuflPner emigrated to the Scioto Yalley, in 1798, from 
Eanawha, Virginia, and settled on the waters of Paint creek, 
near Chillicothe. The foundation of his cabin is yet visible. 
He was a fearless, brave, and daring hunter; had a great antip- 
athy to the Indians, in consequence of the killing of his father 
and mother by them, in 1791, on the Kanawha. He lived by 
hunting panthers, bears, wolves, and deer, and would kill, 
during his hunting excursions, any straggling Indians that 
crossed his path. During the wars of 1791 and 1812 he served 
as a spy. He moved his headquarters on the head waters of 
the Mohiccan, was frequently in company with the renowned 
Indian killers, Wetzel and Hughes. A few days after the 
burning of Greentown, a party of Indians was discovered upon 
the banks of the Mohiccan Lake. The discoverer was Bunty 
Billy. It appears that the Indians had recognized Billy at the 
same time he saw them. Billy at first attempted to run away, 
but the Indians called to him to stop, telling him that they 
would not hurt him; he stopped. The Indians approached 
him in a friendly manner, calling him good boy, etc. "Do 
you know a family by the name of Seymore?" asked a tall 
Indian. "Yeth thir, I geth I do, thir," said Billy. "Do you 
know a man by the name of EuflFner?" "Yeth thir, but I'd 
tbay to you, thir, not to put yourthelf in hith way, thir. He ith 



Huntington 'Township. 27 

a perfect devil, thir, when he ith not in a good humor, thir." 
"All right," said the Indian, and the Indians took their leave, 
and Billy hastened home to inform Euffner of his discovery. 
Instantly Euffner seized his rifle and set out in pursuit of the 
Indians. He soon got on their trail and followed them to the 
cabin of Seymore. The Indians had entered the cabin door 
when they were soon joined by Euffner. On their entry they 
appeared friendly, shaking hands with the whole family; nor 
were the famil}^ alarmed, as the visitations of Indians were fre- 
quent. But Euffner's sudden apj^earance aroused the suspicions 
of Philip Seymore. Euffner thinking that they would not dare 
to attempt an assault upon the family in his presence, insisted 
upon Philip, as he was the most fleet on foot, to run into the 
settlement and gather up some friends. As soon as Philip had 
left the cabin, Euffner immediately noticed a sudden change in 
the countenances of the savages; they cast upon each other 
significant looks and glances, as much as to say: "He is gone 
for aid, and now is our time." A deep, death-like silence 
now reigned in the lonely forest cabin. Kate Seymore could 
no longer endure this deathly gloom. Advancing toward 
Euffner, she said : " Oh, Euffner, we shall all be killed!" Euff- 
ner, who had sat eyeing the savages with a tiger's look, sprang 
to his feet and exclaimed, in a stentorian voice : " Imps of hell, 
leave this place this moment, or I will send your bloody red 
spirits to the burning pit of hell," advancing toward them. 
Instantly the Indians sprang from their seats, and made an 
attack upon the heroic Euffner with uplifted tomahawks. 
In the bloody conflict he killed three of the murderous savages, 
bat, being overpowered by their united strength, fell a lifeless 
bleeding corpse upon the cabin floor. The remaining savages 
then turned upon the aged and helpless couple, who sat like 
petrified statues, gazing with a vacant stare upon the terribly 
bloody scene around them. Two tall savages, with tomahawks 
uplifted, dripping with the blood of the murdered Euffner, 
dealt each a blow upon their heads, and they, too, fell in the 
aofonies of death. 



28 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

Poor Kate was an eye-witness to the dreadful tragedy. She 
was comijelled to hand over all the money of her murdered 
father, and cook dinner for the murderous Indians. Immedi- 
ately after dinner Kanotchey, the brutal chief, approached Kate 
and sunk his tomahawk deep in her head. She, too, fell to rise 
no more. 

The savages then left the cabin, concealing themselves in the 
deep, dark forest. Philip, on returning with help, entered the 
yard, and seeing the blood}^, mangled body of Eutfner, sprang 
into the cabin, where his worst fears were realized. The sight 
was shocking. Poor Kate, the once romping, laughing, beau- 
tiful, rosy-cheeked Kate — there she lay beautiful in death. 
Philip, on beholding her lifeless form, and those of his beloved 
parents and the noble Euffner, gave vent to a flood of tears, and 
exclaimed: "'Tis done; I am left alone." Said he to his neigh- 
bors: "Blood for blood shall be my motto." Bidding them fare- 
well, he bounded into the deep forest, becoming an Indian killer. 
His home was the forest; his covering, the blue sky; his food, 
wild meat. He would lay in ambush, and every straggling Indian 
that hove in sight he would kill. Near the close of the war, 
while seated on a high bluff near the Mohiccan, in a narrow 
bottom below, he saw a large, straight, tall Indian in shooting dis- 
tance. He cocked his gun, took ainl, fired, and killed the sav- 
age. He descended and walked to the place where the Indian 
lay. On examination of his costume and person, he found it 
was Kanotchey, the murderer of his sister. Philip said: "I am 
now avenged." He then returned to his home on the Mohiccan. 

Race for Life, etc. 

Michael Thomas, whose name appears in another part of this 
work, was a spy under Wayne, and traveled all over the North - 
western Territor3^ At one time, when out reconnoitering, he 
saw five or six Indians not far from him, and nearly at the 
same time the Indians saw Thomas and gave chase. Thomas, 
being very swift of foot, eluded his pursuers for some time, but 
the Indians could outwind him, and commenced gaining on 



Huntington Township. 29 

him so fast be began to look for a biding-place. As be ran 
along almost out of breath, be saw a large poplar tree which 
bad fallen, and the bark from the log bad fallen off and rolled 
up, and Thomas ran to it, threw in his gun and crawled in after. 
The Indians being so near, Thomas was almost sure they saw 
him, but it seems they did not. They came up and stood on the 
bark, immediately over Thomas" body, and he was sure they 
could hear bis heart throbbing; for he says he thought it seemed 
to raise the bark above him with the Indians standing upon it. 
But to his astonishment and great satisfaction, the Indians 
passed on without discovering him. He lay in his hiding-place 
all that day, and when night came on he crawled from it and 
made his Avay to the first post of safety. 

At another time when Mr. Thomas was out on a scout, while 
standing on the banks of the Ohio river, he saw coming down 
the bank, on the opposite side, three large Indians. He 
then bid himself The Indians came down to the water and lay 
down to drink, when Thomas leveled his long and trusty rifle 
at one of their beads and fired, when the Indian tumbled head 
first into the turbid stream. The remaining two Indians fled 
into the deep forests, leaving their companion food for the 
fishes. 

The Mistaken Shot. 

Mr. Thomas and Peter Stveevey, son-in-law of Thomas, and 
whose name appears in another part of this work, started out 
one fine morning on a bear hunt. After being out several 
hours, near where the Baptist church now stands, on the side of 
a hill, Thomas told Streevey he saw a bear at the foot of the 
hill through the vines and brush, and pointed out the object to 
Streevey. Streevey told him he did not think it was a bear, 
but Thomas insisted it was a bear, and told Streevey to shoot. 
Streevey refused, saying it was no bear, but if be thought it 
was to shoot it himself. But Thomas still insisted on Streevey's 
shooting, when be finally consented and fired. When the would- 
be bear fell, they heard the jingle of a bell, and Thomas exclaimed : 



30 Pioneer Record of Ross County ^ Ohio. 

"You rascal, you have shot my breeding mare;" and when the 
two hunters reached the spot, behold, to their astonishment 
there lay Thomas' old black mare, stone dead. In those early 
days the hoz'ses and cattle of the pioneers were allowed to range 
at large, and would travel for miles away among the hills and 
valleys, and the owners would put bells on their stock, so that 
they could be more easily found when needed. 

Natural Curiosities, etc. 

The Alum cliffs are on Paint creek. What is called the 
court house is a circular formed cave, the circle being about 
three hundred feet around, the rocks projecting over about 
twenty or thirty feet, from which the water trickles down con- 
tinually. At the north end of this circular cave is a solid rock 
twenty feet square. The cliff of rock is about four hundred yards 
in length, and about one thousand feet above the level of the water, 
with alum and other salts. There are several other caves, one 
about thirty feet in hight, and extending into the rocks consider- 
able distance. Another cave is called the bake oven, by the old 
pioneers, from its similar appearance. All the way around the 
cliff is a ledge or layer of rock about four feet apart ; the under 
or lower layer is about four inches and the upper layer about 
two inches in thickness. On the other side of the creek is a 
similar layer of about the same thickness and like kind of rock. 
It seems as though at one time they were united, but by some 
eruption of nature had been sundered to make way between the 
hills for the passage of the stream. Also, at the north end of 
this circular cave, is another cliff, about half a mile in length, of 
solid rock. In this cliff is another circular cave about one hun- 
dred yards in circumference, and extends back under the rocks 
fifty feet, and about one hundred feet in hight. About one mile 
from this cave is still another large cliff about six hundred feet 
in hight and three hundred yards in length, which, from some 
unknown cause, took fire, proving thereby that this earth con- 
tains elements of its own destruction. This fire burned without 
cessation for the space of nine months. At the north end of this 



Huntington Township. 



cliff are three ancient graves covered with stone, about three 
feet high and twelve feet in length. In these cliffs is a kind of 
mineral pronounced by a geologist to be sulphurous acid ; there 
is also saltpeter to a considerable extent. Several years ago some 
gentlemen, whose names are forgotten, undertook to and did 
manufacture saltpeter there, but not finding it in quantities suf- 
ficient to pay, abandoned the undertaking. ' The cliffs are situ- 
ated on the banks of Paint creek, which name was derived from 
the Indians, there being a bank of red clay on said creek, near 
the beautiful village of Bainbridge, where the Indians, before 
going on their war path, would resort to paint themselves with 
this red clay. In early days these cliffs were a great harboring 
place for wild animals, such as panthers, bears, wolves, and foxes, 
and many an old hunter has been foiled in securing his game 
by its hiding in those rocks and caverns. 

These cliffs, as seen from below, present one solid mass of 
jutting rocks, extending far out over the beholder's head in 
many places, and looking as though about to tumble down and 
crush him to atoms, which inspires him with astonishment and 
awe. The top of the cliff is crowned with spruce pines, which can 
be procured very handily, and the citizens of Chillicothe often 
resort thither to procure those evergreens to decorate their 
halls and ball rooms. Those who are fond of viewing natural 
curiosities would be well repaid for their trip. Indeed, I know 
of no place where there is such grand natural scenery. It 
is visited in the summer season by hundreds, and often has 
been a place of resort for pleasure; and many social parties 
have met on these rocky bights for the purpose of having 
picnics, etc. These cliffs are owned by the Hon. Ex-Sena- 
tor William Allen, and are about six miles from Chilli- 
cothe. Our venerable friend, Mr. Eobert Bishop, Sen., who 
lives near these cliffs, showed us several ancient curiosities 
picked up near them, which he has in his possession, such as 
stone axes, chisels, darts, and arrows of various sizes ; petrified 
horns of different kinds, shapes and sizes; bee combs, wedges, 
land turtles; bark and roots; stones, supposed to have been 



32 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

used by the aborigines foi- skinning their game; pipes, etc., of 
different shapes and sizes. On Mr. Bishop's farm is a sulphur 
spring and deer lick. Near the cemetery on Bishop's hill, at 
the head of a branch, is a graded fall of about one hundred feet. 
And on the farm of Mr. George Long is a beautiful and pictur- 
esque f\ill, almost perpendicular, of twenty or thirty feet. 

Ancient Works. 

About four miles southeast of the village of Bourneville, on 
what is called Black run, a branch of Paint creek, are two quite 
curious fortifications. The first, a stone wall, incloses about 
one acre of ground; the wall is three or four feet high and 
forms almost a square, with inner walls, forming partitions as 
it were; the walls have been much higher from appearances. 
The second works are situated about two hundred yards south, 
and are thrown up in a perfect circle, with stone, about six feet 
high and three hundred feet in circumference ; nearly half of the 
wall has been washed away by the creek. On the inside of this 
circle, and in the center, is quite a mound thrown up of stone, 
which is nearly one thousand feet in circumference, and is eight 
or ten feet in hight, with a large white walnut growing imme- 
diately on the top- 
Near Mr. Aaron Vanscoy's, on Indian creek, at the head of a 
branch, is quite a mound of stone near where an old Indian 
trail used to pass; the mound is several feet in hight. There 
is a story connected with this mound which says: Several 
years ago some brave j'oung men concluded they would explore 
the mound and ascertain what was buried within it. They 
went to work and commenced to tear away the stones. After 
they had worked some time, all at once it commenced blow- 
ing, thundering, and lightning at a tremendous rate, when 
they became frightened and ran for their lives. 

On Mr. John Dunn's farm, on Paint creek, is an ancient work 
thrown up in a circular form ; the distance around this circle is 
about three hundred yards, and about four feet high. On Mrs. 
Houlse's farm, adjoining, is an Indian mound some ten or 
twelve feet in hight, about sixty feet long and forty wide. 



Huntington Township. 33 

On the south side of Paint ci'eek, near the Chillicothe and 
Huntington pike, and about five miles up the creek, near the 
old dam, isan old salt well, where a considerable amount of salt 
was made several years ago, but it is now abandoned. The well 
is on the lands owned by Mr. John Dunn, of Chillicothe; it was 
bored by General Mc Arthur, I believe. 

Indian Battle Grounds. 

In 1790, a termination was put to the war, which, for several 
years, had raged between the Creek Indians and the kState of 
Georgia. Pacific overtures were also made to the hostile tribes 
inhabiting the banks of the Scioto and the Waba.sh. This 
being rejected, an arm}- of 1,400 men, commanded by General 
Harmar, was dispatched against them. Two battles were 
fought near Chillicothe, Ohio, on Paint creek, in the territory 
included in Huntington township, between successive detach- 
ments from this army and the Indians, in which the latter were 
victorious, cutting off almost the entire detachment. 



34 



Pioneer Record of Ross County ^ Ohio. 



Fra?iilin Township. 



The soil of Franklin is generally thin. With the exception 
of along the branches, as Stony creek, etc., the lands next to 
Chillicothe, along the Ohio canal, are reasonably good. One 
side of the township is bounded by this canal and the Scioto 
river. At this portion of the township, on the river, tbere is a 
large and beautiful bottom, which, for richness of soil, can not 
be surpassed by any lands in Ross county, or perhaps the State. 
It is owned principally by Messrs. Foster, Davis, and Higby. 
The first settlements in the township were made on the river. 
The other portions of the township were very little settled for 
several years afterward. The larger portion of this territory 
is very broken and hilly. There are no pikes in the towdship, 
and the roads are generally bad, the canal being the principal 
outlet for exporting their grain, cord wood, tan bark, etc. A 
good road along the bank of this canal is needed badly. The 
timber is principally oak of the different varieties. 

Present Township Officers. 

Justices of the Peace, Elias Schamehorn and Samuel Wood ; 
Treasurer, J. C. Foster; Trustees, Wm. McG-ayer, T. C. Foster, 
and David Crockett; Clerk, C. D. Higby; Constables, James 
Dawson and Jacob Piles. Post-office Alma. 

John Foster's Reminiscences. 

Colonel Foster's father came to Ohio in the year 1796, 
on an exploring expedition. He first went to Kentucky to 
see his brother-in-law, whose name was Cheneworth. He came 
up the Ohio river to the mouth of the Scioto, and up the Scioto 
in a canoe. In 1798 he emigi-ated with his family to Ohio from 
Cumberland county, Md. He first settled in Ross county, now 
Pike. From there he removed to the farm (where Colonel 
Foster is now living) on the banks of the Scioto, and lived in a 



Franklin 'Township. 35 

log cabin about one year, and then built a hewed log house, 
the first house of the kind erected in the township. It is now 
standing and in good condition. Mr. Thomas Foster's family 
consisted of eight children, six daughters anc^ two sons, John 
and Joseph. The latter died in the State of Indiana, in 1864 or 
1865, at the age of seventy years. John was born August 4, 
1801. He has lived in the township all his life, and occupies 
now the room in which he was born. He is now nearly seventy 
years of age, but his well-preserved physical condition would 
not indicate he had reached that period in life. He is a 
practical farmer, and one of the representative men of that 
great interest. His father had five brothers, Thomas, John, 
Benjamin, Joseph, and Eichard. Eichard was the first settler 
of Franklin township, when all was a dense wilderness, filled 
with wild animals of all kinds. Colonel Foster has held sev- 
eral offices during his lifetime, both civil and military. He 
represented the county in the legislature in 1848 ; was associate 
judge for a short time, when he resigned; was colonel of militia 
for several years, and held township offices, etc., for many 
years. His family consists of nine children, all living, to-wit : 
Joseph, William E., Mary Davis, Thomas, Jane Davis, John W., 
James P., Samuel D., major in late rebellion, and Eebecca 
Ann. 

Eev. John Foster, of the M. E. Church, uncle of Colonel 
Foster, was born in 1771, died in 1839, was in the war of 1812 
as captain of a company, and was father of twelve children, to- 
wit: Sarah,Euth, Catherine, Betsy, Joseph, John, Casandra, Mary, 
Eachel, Thomas, Eebecca, and ITancy. Lewis Foster, another 
uncle, was born December 26, 1760, and died at the age of 
ninety-two or three. Colonel Foster's father and his father 
were the first white men who rowed the canoe up the Scioto 
river. A Mr. Cheneworth came to Ohio the summer before 
Mr. Foster, but they came in wagons. T. C. Foster, son of 
Colonel Foster, has seven children, to-wit : Martha, Hannah, 
James, John, William, and George. James served from Au- 
gust, 1861, to January, 1866, in the late rebellion, in the 



^6 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

33d, 53d, and 59th Ohio Yolunteers, and some months in an 
Illinois regiment the last year of the rebellion, and six months 
on Veatch's staff; was major of regiment eighteen months ; 
was at the battle of S'hiloh, siege of Corinth, battle of Corinth, 
and in Sturgis' defeat and battle of Tallulah, and is now treas- 
urer of the township. Colonel Foster has forty-five grand- 
children and two great-grandchildren. 

List of Old Settlers— By Colonel Foster. 

John Johnston was justice of the peace for twenty-three 
years; James G-reearlj'-, first school teacher; Quin Collins 
Groddard ; Samuel Wilson built first mill ; Richard Tomlinson, 
hotel-keeper at Three Locks or State dam, was justice for several 
years, captain of militia, auctioneer, etc.; John and George 
Pushon were in the war of 1812; William Eidenger; Enos 
Moore; John Beauman; Elias Scammehorn, justice of the 
peace for many years; Joseph Crockett,' one of the first settlers 
on Stony creek ; Jonathan Swyers ; Daniel Swyers was a Eevo- 
lutionary soldier and was at the battle of Lundy'sLane; Allen 
ISTixon ; Thomas Louzatta; Saul Phillips; Benjamin Phillips; 
J. E. Higby, extensive farmer on the river, and father-in-law 
of Hon. J. H. Keith, of Chillicothe; Sylvester Higby, a justice 
of the peace for several years, held other township offices ; 
Samuel Wood held township offices, was justice of the peace, 
etc.; Peter Bennett held township offices, and was captain of 
militia; S. O. Barker, justice of the peace for many years, 
township clerk, etc. ; James Pry; Edward Hurdell. Joseph 
Hern emigrated to Ohio from Germany in 1817; Mr. Hern 
was a soldier under Bonaparte, and was at Strasbui'g when 
Bonaparte was driven back from Russia. He went as a sub- 
stitute for his brother, who is now drawing a yearly pen- 
sion for his services, which Mr. Hern seems to think un- 
just. He will be seventy years old in April next, and is 
hale and hearty, and looks as though he might live that much 
longer ; he is a farmer, and keeps also a grocery store on the 
banks of the Ohio canal. Just below Mr. Hern's grocery are 



Franklin 'Township. 37 

the three locks and the State dam across the Scioto river. The 
dam is nearly one hundred yards in length, and is quite a resort 
for fishing parties, and Mr. Hern is always prepared to enter- 
tain guests on those occasions in the best style, with any- 
thing they may call for. Thomas Tomlinson was the first lock 
tender, and Richard Tomlinson was tlie first grocer, at these 
locks. 

Mr. James Davis' Reminiscenses. 

His father emigrated to Ohio in 1808, and settled on the high 
banks of the Scioto. His family consisted of eight children, 
to-wit: William, Lotha, James, Hannah, Marj', George, Charles, 
and Louisa. They removed to Fi-anklin township about 1815. 
He has held township offices in diff'erent capacities almost all his 
life. He used to be a flatboatraan, and take his boats to Natchez 
and New Orleans trading. This occupation he followed for 
many years. He would sell his cargo and boats, and then foot 
it home. James has held different township offices. On his 
father's farm there was an old Indian burying ground, contain- 
ing at first about twenty acres, which has from time to time 
been diminished by the washing away of the bank by the river, 
and is now almost extinct. They used to find many human bones, 
beads, etc., near and on the ground occupied by this graveyard. 
There are on the fjxrm some four or five ancient works of different 
shapes and sizes, and some of them of considerable extent. There 
is also on this farm a salt spring or deer lick. On James Davis' 
farm, some years since, a company bored an oil well some seven 
hundred feet in depth ; but, like many other companies, they 
failed to strike He. At the mouth of Stony creek. General 
McArthur, several years since, bored a salt well, and made a 
considerable quantity of salt of a very good quality, but it was 
finally abandoned. On Mr. Davis' farm is what is known as 
the Foster Chapel, erected forty years since, and is a good sub- 
stantial building yet. It belongs to the M. E. denomination. 
Mr. Davis' family consists of three children, to-wit: Emma, 
Mary E., and J. Russell Davis. 



38 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

In earlier days, Franklin was a great place for game, such 
as deer, bears, panthers, wild cats, etc. Indians, when Mr. Fos- 
ter first settled on the river, were very plenty, and they had a 
trail passing along up the Scioto, which was perceptible for 
many years. About two miles from Mr. James Davis' farm 
is a circular-formed basin, some ten to twenty feet deep, 
which has the appearance of having at some time been much 
deeper. This basin is about fifty to sixty feet across, and must 
have been dug out for some purpose by the aborigines many 
years since. 

We have been shown by Mr. J. C. Foster a beautiful robe, 
made of four deer skins, which he himself had captured in the 
hills of Franklin. He is quite a hunter, and says that there 
are some of those beautiful and timid animals to be found in 
the neighboring hills yet, which almost tempted us to try our 
hand. We were shown b}^ Mrs. James Foster quite a large and 
ancient split-bottom chair, which measured across the seat two 
feet and nine inches, and was used by her grandmother in her 
lifetime. The old lady was a very large woman, weighing about 
four hundred pounds; was born November 13, 1770, and died in 
the spring of 1841, aged seventy-one j^ears. 



Twin Township. 39 



^win Township* 



Officers of Township. 

Justices of the Peace, Allen Cochran and Thomas Platter; 
Trustees, David Moore, Benjamin Poole, and Eobert P. Mc- 
Cracken; Treasurer, J. Holter; Clerk, Abrara Sommers ; Con- 
stables, James Hanawalt and Jacob Eoberts; Land Appraiser, 
William A. Jones. 

Old Settlers. 

W. A. Shoults' father, John Shoults, emigrated to Ohio 
from Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1812 ; was in the war of 
1812; was a blacksmith, wagon and cabinet-maker; died aged 
eighty-two years and six months; lived on Paint creek forty 
years. His brother, Christian Shoults, emigrated to Ohio at the 
same time, and died some years since in the State of Indiana. 

Jacob Shotts was born in Augusta county, Virginia ; 
served as county commissioner one term ; was trustee of town- 
ship for several years; has lived on Paint creek for forty- 
six years. David Shotts, son of Jacob, served several years as 
trustee of township; was captain of militia. Joseph, another 
son, served several years as justice of the peace. 

Ancient Burying Ground. 

On Mr. Higby's farm, adjoining Mr. Shotts' lands, is 
quite an extensive ancient burying ground, where many human 
skeletons have been found ; some of them of very large size. On 
the farm of Mr. A. Koberts, there is another burying ground. 
Last summer, the hogs rooted out of the earth the entire frame 
of a man of very large size. The under jaw bones would 
easily go over an ordinary man's face. 



40 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

Old Settlers. 

Hugh Cochran emigrated to Ohio from near Lexington, 
Kentucky, in the year 1797; was in the war of 1812 ; served 
during the war, and died aged seventy-five. years. His sister, 
Elizabeth, was the first woman married in the Scioto Valley. 
In Howe's History of Ohio, we find the following account 
of the same: "On the 17th day of April, 1798, the families of 
Colonel Worthington and Dr. Tiffin arrived — at which time the 
first marriage in the vScioto Valley was celebrated, the parties 
beino- George Kilgore and Elizabeth Cochran. The ponies of 
the attendants of the wedding were hitched to the trees along 
the streets, which were then not cleared out, nearly the whole- 
town being a wilderness." 

James Browning's fixther, Joseph Browning, was a soldier 

in the war of 1812; was a tailor; died aged sixty-five j^ears. 

John Lance's father emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania 

in 1808; was a weaver ; died aged sixty-eight years. John, 

now living, aged sixty-seven j^ears, is a harness-maker. 

Daniel P. March's father, Stephen March, emigrated to 
Ohio, from the then Territory of Maine, in the year 1817 ; was 
judge of the court and justice of the peace for many years ; 
died aged sixty-five years. His brothers, Henrj^ and Joseph 
H. March, were in the war of 1812. Joseph served a part of 
the time as a substitute for a hotel-keeper living in Ken- 
tuckj', who was drafted. His wife's distress, in regard to 
losing her husband from home, moved the sympathies of 
Mr. March, and he offered himself as a substitute and was 
accepted. 

Isaac Conner emigrated to Ohio from Now Jersey in the 
year 1805, and was in the Eevolutionary war; died aged eighty- 
two years. His son, John C. Conner, of Bourneville, served in 
the war of 1812, in Captain David Sutton's companj^, for six 
months, and was paid, after he was discharged, at the rate of 
eight dollars per month, and received a land warrant for one 
hundred and sixty acres of land also. He furnished his own 
uniform, consisting of linsey pants and homo-made linen shirts. 



'Twin Township, 41 



They rendezvoused at Newark for about two months ; from there 
he went to Urbana ; stayed a short time ; then to Finlej^'s block- 
house; from there to Sowlon's town ; remained a short time; 
from there through the Black swamp to the rapids of the Mau- 
mee; where he remained a few days, when part of the brigade 
was ordered back to Fort Meigs, where they were dischai-ged. 
His company suffered terribly by exposure to the cold and wet; 
they had to wade rivers, swamps, etc.; had often to cut brush 
and pile them up so as to make themselves a place to lie upon 
to keep their bodies out of the water and mud. They made 
their bread by mixing flour with water ; then, wrapping the 
dough around sticks, held it to the fire to bake. He says they 
were often put on picket guard at eight o'clock in the morning, 
and not relieved until the same hour next morning, and some- 
times it was raining and freezing all night. His brother, Joseph 
Conner, who died from exposure while in the service, was only 
eighteen years of age, and of a delicate constitution ; he was 
buried with the honors of war. J. C. Conner is a millwright 
and surveyor ; has served as township officer for many years in 
different capacities; was treasurer fifteen years, and was cap- 
tain of militia. He further says, at one time during his soldier 
life, there was one morning one hundred men sent out to stand 
picket guard, and they were kept out until the next morning at 
eight o'clock — the night being very severe, raining and freezing 
all the time — and out of the one hundred men, only nineteen 
lived. Among the" number who died was his brother above 
mentioned. 

Gideon Coover, father of John Coovcr, emigrated to Ohio 
from Pennsylvania, in the year 1800; was drafted to serve in 
the war of 1812, but furnished substitute; died aged lorty- 
seven years. Samuel Coover emigrated to Ohio in 1808 ; was a 
tailor ; died aged eigiity-eight 3-cars. David Coover, brother 
of Samuel, died aged seventy j-ears. William Campbell 
emigrated to Ohio at an early day ; he was a resident of Twin 
township for sixty-five years ; served during the war of 1812, 
and was one of the bravest soldiers in his regiment. John 



42 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

Campbell, his son, a farmer, is still living. Thomas McDonald 
emigrated to Ohio, from Scotland, at an early day; served in 
the war of 1812; now dead. David Somers emigrated from 
Virginia at an early day; was a soldier in the war of 1812; 
now dead. 

Shredrich Wroten emigrated from Delaware in 180G ; was a 
soldier in the Kevolutionary war ; served five years and six 
months; was sergeant in his company; died aged eighty-nine 
years and six months. His son, Laban Wroten, has served his 
township for several years as constable and captain of militia ; 
was a grocer and farmer; as a home hunter, has killed many 
bears, deer, turkeys, wild cats, etc.; had been, in his younger 
days, quite a muscular man, and in early times when corn husk- 
ings, log rollings, raisings, etc., were in vogue, has had many 
a hard fought battle, in the way of fisticuffs, and it was but 
seldom that he did not come off victorious. John Freshour, 
I Sen., emigrated to Ohio, from Virginia, at quite an early day; 
he was one of the first settlers on Paint creek ; was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary war ; died aged eight3'-five years. One 
of his sons, Daniel Freshour, was in the war of 1812; is still 
living. John, another son, died aged seventy-one years; was 
quite an extensive farmer on Paint creek. James McMillen, 
carpenter, now dead. 

Simon Johnston, Sen., was one among the earliest settlers ; 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Barney Minney was 
in the war of 1812, and died while in the service. Job Harness 
was in the war of 1812; John Harness also; is now dead. 
Thomas Dehart, miller, was in the war of 1812; now dead. 
Nelson Prather, farmer, dead. Enos Prather was quite an ex- 
tensive farmer on Paint creek in his day ; he removed to Kansas 
several years since, where he lately died. 

Ralph Chaney, father of James Chaney, was an early settler ; 
has been dead for many years. He came to his death in the 
following manner: He was out one day felling a tree, and the 
wind, blowing very hard, threw it the way he did not expect it 
to fall, and caught him under it. 



T'lvin Township. 43 



Allen Cochran, Sen., father of John and Allen Cochran, Jr., 
served as justice of 'the peace, in Twin township, for fifteen 
years ; died aged sixty-two years. Isaac N. McCracken was 
justice of the peace and associate judge for several years. 
David Cochran, one of the early settlers, furnished wood for 
the legislature at its first sitting in Chillicothe. 

Richard Acton emigrated to Ohio, from Kentucky, in the 
year 1800; was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Major 
Willett; died aged forty-five years. His son, Jacob Acton, of 
Bourneville, harness maker, has been a resident of Twin town- 
ship thirty years ; he was two 3^ears and seven months in the 
service of the United States, as a sailor on the Levant, a first- 
class sloop of war of twenty-six guns — six of them Paxtoo guns 
of eighty-four pounds; two fifteen pounds; the balance thirty- 
two pounds. John Hannawalt, tailor, emigrated from Penn- 
sylvania to Ohio, in 1820 ; lived in the village of Bourneville 
over forty years ; served as captain of the Independent Rifle- 
men at one time; is still living; aged seventy-two years. 

The village of Bourneville contains about one hundred and 
fifty inhabitants, two stores, three groceries, one saloon, three 
churches, three blacksmith shops, one tannery, two harness 
shops, two shoemakers, two wagon-makers, one post-office (post- 
master, Abram Sommers), one cabinet-maker, one carpenter's 
shop and cabinet-maker's combined. 

In this village, in the month of October, 1844, there was a 
brutal murder committed. Frederick Edwards was a store- 
keeper at the time, and, being a bachelor, he slept in the 
store, and was reported to have a considerable amount of 
money. Two fiends in human shape, by the names of Thomas 
and Maxwell, concocted a plan for robbing Mr. Edwards ; and 
breaking into the store for that purpose — not expecting to find 
any one there — they were attacked by Mr. Edwards, and 
a terrible struggle ensued, in which the latter lost his life. 
Thomas and Maxwell made their escape, but were afterward 
captured, tried, and found guilty. Thomas was hung in Chilli- 
cothe, in March, 1846. Maxwell made his escape, aided, as 



44 Pioneer Record of Ross County ^ Ohio. 

some suppose, by a woman from Cincinnati, who claimed to be 
his wife, and was never recaptured. 

John McNea], father of Eobert McNeal, was a resident of 
Twin township for over fifty years; died aged seventy-five 
years. His son, Archibald, was a soldier in the war of 1812; 
died aged sixty-five years. 

Abijah Flora, a carpenter, emigrated from Virginia to 
Ohio, or the then Northwestern Territory, at a very early day; 
he served in the war of the Revolution as lieutenant of his 
company; was one of the first settlers in Heller's bottom, 
on Paint creek ; died aged seventy years. His son, Thomas, 
has been a resident of Eoss county upward of sixty years ; he 
was called out during the war of 1812, and furnished a sub- 
stitute. HeAvasa great hunter in his younger days; and when 
quite a lad he went on a hunting expedition with his father and 
the Rev. James B. Finley, William Murphy, Jacob Myers, and 
Simon Girty, Jr., son of the noted Simon Girty, of historical 
notoriety. The company started with dogs and guns, and upon 
arriving at a small creek — now known as Black run, the 
dividing line between Huntington and Twin townships — on 
the farm now owned by Mr. John Schligle, of Chillicothe, just 
above the barn now being built on the left of the road, the 
dogs treed a bear up a large poplar, of which tree the stump and 
part of the body still remain. They managed to shoot the old 
bear, and cutting down the tree found two young cubs. Mr. 
Flora says he enjoyed the sport finel}^, and would like to live 
those daj^s over again. At another time, his father and Mr. 
George Vincent Heller were out walking one Sunday morning, 
through the beautiful forest bottoms of Paint creek, when they 
discovered some bear tracks in the soft ground, and followed 
them to a large elm ti-ee, and found there was a den in the 
hollow of the tree several feet up. Tbej^ started to inform 
thoir neighbors, and soon collected quite a number of men, 
women, and children, who with dogs and guns went along to 
see the fun. The first thing they did was to cut a small tree 
and lodge it against the one containing the bear; this accom- 



'Twin Township. 45 



plished, Mr. Jacob Heller went up the tree which had been 
lodged, and found the hole in the tree extended several feet 
down in the bod}", but they managed to get Mr. Heller a long 
papaw pole, to which they attached a bunch of hickory bark, 
which they set on fire, and, when in full blaze, Mr. Heller thrust 
it down in the hollow of the tree. Bruin soon made his 
appearance at the entrance of the hole, when George Heller 
raised his gun to shoot; he told Jacob his head was in the waj'-; 
he answered to fire away, as he was the matter of an inch or so 
out of the way; his brother fired, and the fur from the bear flew 
into his face and eyes, so close was he to the bear. The bear 
fell to the ground, and, amidst the howls of dogs, and shouts of 
men, and screams of women and children, bruin was hastily 
dispatched. 

At another time, a Mr. Murphy treed a bear, and col- 
lected several of his neighbors, with their dogs and guns; 
among them Mr. Flora, my informant, then quite a lad. The 
tree was hollow, and when it fell the tree broke in two where 
the hole was. An old bear and two cubs rolled out, and im- 
mediately took to flight, the dogs and men in full chase ; they 
soon overtook and dispatched them 

On returning, they passed by the tree which they had felled, 
when Mr. Flora, out of curiosity, stooped down and peeped 
into the hollow tree as it lay, when, to his surprise, out jumped 
another yearling bear, which took after him. He ran a short 
distance, and, finding the bear about to overtake him, he turned 
and ran back, the bear in full chase. He mounted the stump 
of the fallen tree, when the dogs came to his relief, and soon 
one of the party of men came up and dispatched the bear with 
his rifle, much to the relief of the boy. 
Names of Old Settlers. 

The first preacher was William Kerns, and the first school 
teacher a Mr. Wilcox. William Keed was justice of the peace 
for many years. John Core and James Eussell served in the 
war of 1812 ; Benjamin Brackey, Presley Johnston, John Eeed, 
and David Breedlove emigrated to Ohio, from Kentucky, in 



4-6 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

early days. Peter Shanks, Alex. Johnston, Thomas Ladd, 
G-eorge Kilgore, Philip Maston, Eobert McMahon, and Daniel 
Devoss were among the first settlers in Heller's bottom, on Paint 
creek. When they first settled there they owned a fine young 
sow, with a brood of pigs, which they had to fasten under their 
cabin at night, to prevent the bears from carrying off. Late 
one night they heard the squealing of their sow, and knew a 
bear had made his way to her by some means, and was carry- 
ing her off into the forest. They hastily arose, all in their 
night clothes ; the old lady prepared a torch by splitting a clap- 
board or two, and Mr. Devoss called several neighbors from 
their cabins near by, and they with their dogs and guns gave 
chase, the old lady carrying the torch and lighting the way. 
The dogs soon overtook the bear with his burden, and the men 
coming up, dispatched bruin, and rescued the sow but lit- 
tle injured ; but the men and old lady, in running through the 
nettles, which at that time were very thick and waist high, 
had their naked legs terribly pricked and scratched. Mr. Flora 
says when a bear captures a hog, he does not stop to kill it, but 
will hug it in his arms and commence eating until he has 
finished his repast,'the hog squealing all the time as long as life 
lasts. 

George J. Moore emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 
1813 ; was a farmer ; died in 1850. His son, David Moore, 
lives on the Milford and Chillicothe turnpike. In constructing 
said pike, several human skeletons were dug up near his house, 
some of them of very large size and some very small, as though 
of infants. Also, on Mr. Philip A. Eoad's farm, others, of simi- 
lar sizes, were found. 

Daniel E. Dolohan says his father, Michael Dolohan, emi- 
grated to Ohio from Virginia about the year 1802 ; was in the 
service in the war of 1812, as scout ; died aged ninety-one years. 
Thomas Hanks emigrated to Ohio about 1790; was a soldier 
in the Eevolutionary war ; his sons, Joseph and John, were 
soldiers in the war of 1812 ; all dead. David Collins and a Mr. 
Miller built what are known as the Slate mills, on the north 



1'win Township. 47 



fork of Paint creek, which was one of the first flouring mills in 
the county. Jesse Wiley, Casper C. Pliley's father, Philip C. 
Pliley, William Pliley, and JeflPerson Pliley emigrated to Ohio 
at a very early day. Their father was in the Eevolutionary 
war. John Ward died in Hardin county, in 1867, at a very ad- 
vanced age ; was in the war of 1812, under General Harrison. 

Benning Wentworth gives us the names of James Matthews, 
who emigrated from Scotland to Ohio in early days, and was 
treasurer of Highland countj^lbr a term of j^ears, and Eobert 
Waddle, also from Scotland, who was under Wellington at the 
battle of Waterloo, and a great player on the bag-pipe. 

Peter Shaner emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 
1800 ; served in the war of 1812, and helped cut out the Leba- 
non road, and is now living, aged eighty-six years. His father, 
Peter Shaner, Sen., was in the war of the Eevolution, fought at 
the battle of Brandy wine, and died at the age of seventy. John 
Gossard emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania, in 1808; was 
in the war of 1812, and served several years, in different capaci- 
ties, as township officer; died aged fifty-six years. Philip 
Gossard and Jacob Gossard served in the war of 1812 ; are now 
dead. James Nichols, miller and hotel keeper at the Slate 
mills in early days, served in the war of 1812 ; is now dead. 
Henry Sharp served in the war of 1812, and as justice of the 
peace for many j'ears. Dilard Eowe, Abott Eowe, and David 
Eowe served in the war of 1812. Charles Craig and John 
Craig were in the war of 1812, and their grandfather was in 
the Eevolutionary war. Alex. Craig and a Mr. Wilson were 
the first school teachers for many years. William Craig was 
the first man who drove a wagon and team to Chillicothe over 
Zane's trace. 

Colonel John McDonald. — {From the Scioto Gazette.) 

" Colonel John McDonald was born January 28, 1775, in 
Pennsylvania. His early life was sjjent upon the frontiers of 
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky. Before arriving at the 
age of twenty years he entered the militarj'^ service, under 



48 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

General Wayne. He was attached to the army commanded 
by that veteran general in 1794, and was present, on the 20th 
of August of that year, at the memorable battle with the In- 
dians on the Mauniee. In 1796 became to Chillicothe, where he 
was married to Miss Catherine Cutwright in 1799. He settled on 
Poplar ridge in the year 1802. He held, in his lifetime, vari- 
ous offices in the militia, and served as colonel. In the war of 
1812 he went with the Ohio troops to the frontier, in the double 
capacity of paymaster and quartermaster, and was taken pris- 
oner at the surrender of Detroit. In 1813 he was appointed a 
captain in the regular army. In 1814 he was placed in com- 
mand of a regiment of regular troops at Detroit, and remained 
in the service until peace was made and the army disbanded. 
In 1817 he was elected to the Ohio senate, and served for two 
terms. At a late period of his life be wrote and published a 
very interesting and popular work, comprising sketches of the 
first settlements on the Ohio, with biograpbical sketches of 
distinguished pioneers. Colonel McDonald was very exten- 
sively known, and greatly respected as an intelligent and use- 
ful citizen ; and so long as the early history of the Scioto Valley 
shall be preserved, he will be kept in honorable recollection." 

Rev. James B. Finley gives the following account of Col- 
onel McDonald [See Finley's Autobiography, pp. 123-130] : 

" Colonel John McDonald, one of my early companions, 
was of Scotch descent. His father was connected with the 
army of the Revolution from its first organization up to the 
year 1780. John was born in Northumberland county, on the 
28th of January, 1775. His father crossed the mountains with 
his family in 1780, and settled at a place called Mingo Bottom, 
three miles below the present site of Steubenville. The Ohio 
river was then the extreme frontier, constituting the dividing 
line between the white and red man. No line, however, was 
sufficient to form a barrier against the invasions of both parties. 
The white man was as frequently the aggressor as the Indian, 
and many were the scenes of suffering, carnage, and massacre 
witnessed along this border line. My young friend was reared 



Twin 'Township. 49 



amid all the dangers of a border war. In the year 1789 his 
father removed to Washington, Ky., where we were then resid- 
ing, and soon after their arrival my acquaintance with young 
McDonald commenced. 

''The first excursion of my friend McDonald was taken 
with Kenton. Three men from near Washington went out on 
a hunting expedition, and encamped on the waters of Bracken, 
about ten miles from home. While they were out hunting a 
party of Indians came upon their camp, and placed themselves 
in ambush, to waylay the hunters on their return at night. 
The names of two of the hunters were Dan Figgans and Josiah 
Wood ; the name of the other is forgotten. It was late when 
the party returned. As they were preparing their supper the 
Indians crept up stealthily, and fired, killing Wood and the one 
whose name is forgotton. Figgans, being unhurt, fled for his life. 
The Indians started in pursuit, with the most hideous 3-ells. 
The race was most fearfully kept up, but Figgans distanced his 
pursuers, and at midnight reached Washington, where he 
alarmed his friends at Kenton's Station. This bold warrior 
immediately mounted his horse, and, in a short time, having 
raised a company, started in pursuit. Young McDonald was 
anxious to accompany them, but his father, thinking him too 
young, being but fifteen years of age, to be of any service, 
refused his consent. He was not, however, to be deterred ; so 
stealing his father's rifle and horse, he started at full speed, and 
soon overtook the company. They arrived at the place about 
sunrise, and a most shocking scene presented itself to their 
view. One of the men had been scalped, and thrown into the 
fire, where he was nearly consumed : the other had also been 
scalped, and cut to pieces with the Indian hatchet. The party 
proceeded to the mournful work of depositing their remains in 
the ground ; and ascertaining by the tracks of the horses that 
the Indians had directed their course for the Ohio river, they 
started after them. When they arrived at the river, they found 
that the Indians, without waiting a moment, had plunged in 
and swam across, thus cutting off pursuit. This dreadful sight 



50 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

had a tendency somewhat to cool the ardor of the youthful war- 
rior, who, nevertheless, would have been glad of an opportunity 
for taking revenge upon the savage foe. 

"From this time McDonald was constantly engaged with 
scouting, hunting, and surveying parties. In the spring of 
1792 he joined Gfencral Massie's settlement at Manchester, 
twelve miles above Maysville. This was the thii'd settlement 
on the northwest side of the Ohio river, above Cincinnati, or 
Losantiville, as the town was called. This infant settlement, 
together with the lives of all in the station, was in constant 
danger. Many and exciting were the scenes by which they 
were surrounded. Sometimes they were deeply depressed, and 
anon, when danger was over, their spirits rose exulting at the 
trials and conflicts through which they had passed. A report 
would sometimes come in that one of their number had fallen 
by the hand of the enemy, which would cast a shade of sadness 
and gloom on all hearts; then again the intelligence that the 
bold and daring hunter had captured the foe, would inspire 
them with courage. Thus life was made up of constant alterna- 
tions of hope and despondency. This constant warfare made 
the early settlers so familiar with scenes of blood and carnage, 
that they became, in a measure, indifferent spectators, and at 
the same time reckless and fearless of all danger. Scenes of 
horror that would have congealed the blood in the veins of 
those unaccustomed to them, would scarcely move the heart of 
the hardy pioneer. 

"In the spring of 1794 Colonel McDonald and his brother 
.Thomas joined General Wayne's army, as rangers, or spies. 
The company of rangers consisted of seventy-two, of whom 
Captain Ephraim Kibby was commander. He was a true Jer- 
sey blue, fully adequate to any emergency growing out of his 
highly responsible position. It was the duty of the rangers to 
traverse the Indian country in every direction, in advance of 
the army. This was not only a toilsome, but a dangerous work. 
The company was divided into small detachments, which 



TW/« Township. ^i 



started out in every direction, and, after scouring the country, 
returned and made tlieir report to headquarters. 

"Early in November of the year above mentioned, Mr. 
Lucas Sullivan, a land-speculator and surveyor from Virginia, 
collected a company of twenty-one men to go upon a surveying 
tour into the Scioto country. This was a hazardous undertak- 
ing. Notwithstanding the Indians had been severely beaten 
by General Wayne, a fiew months previously, yet the country 
was far from a state of peace. Attached to this company were 
three surveyors, namely, John and Nathaniel Beasley, and Sul- 
livan, who was the chief. Young McDonald was connected 
with this company. Every man carried his own baggage and 
arms, consisting of a rifle, tomahawk, and scalping-knife. 
While engaged in surveying, the hunters would go in advance 
as spies, and the surveyor, chain-carriers, and marksmen would 
follow in line, the whole being brought up by the jDack-horse 
and the man who cooked for the company. It was his business 
to keep a good look-out, so that the enemy should not attack 
them in the rear. In this military manner was most of the sur- 
veying in Ohio and Kentucky performed. They did not carry 
any provisions with them, but depended on their rifles for a 
living, which seldom failed to afford them an abundant supply. 

" Having taken Todd's trace, they pursued their journey 
till they came to Paint creek, at the old crossings. From 
thence they proceeded to old Chillicothe, now Fi-ankfort, and 
thus on to Deer creek, where they encamped at the mouth of 
Hay run. In the morning Sullivan, McDonald, and Murray 
went down to Deer creek with the intention of taking its mean- 
derings back to the camp. They had not proceeded more than 
a hundred rods till a flock of turkeys came flying toward them. 
McDonald and Murray being on the bank of the creek, near to 
a pile of drift-wood, Murray, without reflecting a moment that 
the turkeys must have been driven toward them by some per- 
sons, slipped up to a tree and shot a turkey. He then slipped 
back, and as there were more turkeys on the tree, McDonald 
slipped up to the position left by his companion. Just as he 



52 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

was about to fire, the sharp crack of a rifle fell on his ears, and, 
turning instantly, he saw poor Murray fall to rise no more. 
Looking in the direction from whence the messenger of death 
came, he saw several Indians with their rifles leveled at him. 
Quick as thought he sprang over the bank into the creek, and 
they fired but missed him. The Indians followed hard after 
him, yelling and screaming like fiends. Running across the 
bottom, he met Sullivan and three others of the company. 
Sullivan instantly threw away his compass and clung to his 
rifle. Their only safety was in rapid flight, as the Indians were 
too numerous to encounter. As they ran the Indians fired 
upon them, one of the balls striking Colvin's cue at the tie, 
which shocked him so much that he thought himself "mortally 
wounded. But he was a brave young man, and being fleet of 
foot, he ran up the creek and gave the alarm at the camp, stat- 
ing that he believed all were killed but himself. Those at 
camp of course fled as soon as possible. McDonald and his 
party ran across the bottom to the high land, and after run- 
ning three miles struck a prairie. Casting their eye over it, 
they saw four Indians trotting along the trace. They thought 
of running round the prairie and heading them, but not know- 
ing how soon those in pursuit would be upon them, and per- 
chance they would get between two fires, they adopted the bet- 
ter part of valor and concealed themselves in the grass till the 
Indians were out of sight. After remaining there for some 
time they went to the camp and found it deserted. Just as they 
were about to leave, one of the company espied a note stuck in 
the end of a split stick, to this effect, " If you should come, fol- 
low the trail." It was then sundown, and they knew they 
would not be able to follow the trail after dark. When night 
came on, they steered their course by starlight. 

'' They had traveled a distance of eight or nine miles. It 
was a cold, dreary night, and the leaves being frozen, the sound 
of their footsteps could be heard some distance. All at once 
they heard something break and run as if it were a gang of 
buff'aloes. At this they halted and remained silent for some 



Twin 'Township. 53 



time. After a while the fugitives could be heard coming back 
softly. Supposing that it might be their companions, McDon- 
ald and McCormick concluded to creep up slowly and see. 
They advanced till they could hear them cracking hazel-nuts with 
their teeth. They also heard them whisper to one another, but 
could not tell whether they were Indians or white men. They 
cautiously returned to Sullivan, and the company, after delib- 
eration, finally concluded to call, which they did, and found, to 
their jo}', that it was their own friends who fled from them. 
They had mutual rejoicings at meeting again, but poor Murray 
was left a prey to the Indians and wolves. They now com- 
menced their journey homeward, and, after three days' travel, 
arrived at Manchester." 

Names of Old Settlers, furnished by Col. John C. McDonald, Jr. 
Alex. Given emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania about 
1800 ; was in the war of 1812 ; bought land of General Mc- 
Arthur and paid for it by months' work ; died of cancer in 1858. 
Isaac Pearce. Aaron Foster emigrated from Pennsylvania to 
Ohio; was in the war of 1812; was adjutant under Colonel John 
McDonald ; served as justice of the peace for twenty-one years ; 
was county commissioner one term ; died in 1862. Samuel 
Teter emigrated to Ohio from Washington county, Pennsyl- 
vania, about the year 1798; had four sons, Samuel, George, John, 
and Daniel ; all served in the war of 1812, except Samuel ; all 
dead. John Core emigrated from Maryland to Ohio in 1800; 
was a millwright and blacksmith, and built the first mill in 
Twin township; his three sons, John, Henry, and Chrisley, 
served in the war of 1812; Chrisley started the day after he be- 
came eighteen years of age. Henry was sergeant-major on 
Colonel McDonald's staif during the war. William Eeed emi- 
grated from Delaware to Ohio in 1798; was justice ofihe peace 
tor several years. Philip and Daniel Hare emigrated from 
Delaware in the year 1797 ; Daniel was captain of a company 
during the war of 1812, under Colonel McDonald. David 
Elliott was captain of a company in the war of 1812. Renjarri in^ 



54 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

Turner emigrated from Delaware to Ohio at an early day. 
Samuel Turner was one of the first hotel-keepers. Nathan Eeeves 
atrd-Ephraim Camper were the first school teachers. Jacob Myers 
served as major in the war of 1812; was one of the bravest 
officers of his regiment; he was a carpenter. John Mahan was 
in the war of 1812. John Walker built one of the first mills in 
the township; was a blacksmith. John Summerville emigrated 
from Scotland to America, and settled in Twin township at an 
early day ; was quartermaster under Colonel McDonald during 
the campaign of 1814; served as justice of the peace for many 
years; is still living. James Summerville was in the war of 
1812, and was killed in the battle of Tippecanoe. Archy Mc- 
Donald emigrated to Ohio from Scotland. He came as a Brit- 
ish soldier, but deserted and joined the American forces; was 
at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. His two sons, John and 
William, served in the war of 1812. Joseph and Jacob Myers 
were in the war of 1812. Colonel John C. McDonald, Jr., who fur- 
nishes the above, is living, aged fifty-nine years, but his well 
preserved physical condition would not indicate that he had 
reached that period in life. He is a practical farmer, and one 
of the representative men of that great interest. He served 
one term as sheriff* of the county, to the credit of himself and 
county, and refused any further honors in that line, although 
his many friends would have been pleased to have given him 
their sufl'rages. He served during his time as land appraiser^ 
and filled several township offices. 

Reminiscences by James P. Brown. 

" I was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, and emigrated tc 
Ohio in 1816. Lived several years on the south branch of the 
Potomac, in Virginia. Was a volunteer in the war of 1812, 
under one Captain Ashby; was at the battle of Hampton Roads, 
under Generals Cobin and Crutchfield; the latter ordered about 
Bix hundred of us to advance and fire on about two thousand of 
the enemy. After giving the order, Crutchfield ran, and was 
not seen by his men until they found him about twelve miles 



T^win Township. tt 



distant from the fight. There were seven or eight of our men 
killed. We stood the fire of the enemy for some time, until it 
became too hot for us, and then retreated. General Cobin was 
wounded in the wrist. The ball went up his arm and came out 
at the elbow. He was on one side of a post and rail fence at 
the time he received the wound, and the enemy all around him, 
when one of our men broke down the fence and took him to the 
rear with his horse. Just before receiving his wound, he called 
to Captain Ashb}^, saying: 'I know you and your men will 
fight ; fight on !' But he was soon wounded, and ordered a re- 
treat. One of our men, John Barr, was shot through the leg-, 
and cried out: 'Oh, Lord, I am dead!' I took his gun to 
carry, when Barr got up and took to his heels, soon passing me 
in his flight; he had only received a flesh wound. After the 
fight was over, we commenced preparing our repast, which 
was composed of spoiled provisions, cooked in a few old rusty 
kettles." My informant says he paid two dollars and fifty cents 
per week for his board, and rations thrown in; he was not 
paid off for some time after being discharged, and had to pay 
his own way home. He is now living, aged eighty-three years. 
His father, Daniel Brown, was of English descent, and was a 
a distiller in Virginia. He settled in that State during the 
war of the Revolution, and had eight sons and eight daughters. 
John Camelin. father of Mrs. John Baum, emigrated from 
Pennsylvania to Ohio about 1800. Was called out during the 
war of 1812, but furnished a substitute; died aged about ninety- 
one years. Was born on the fourth day of July, 1776, the day 
of the Declaration of Independence. 

By James Demoss. 

James Demoss, Sen., emigrated from Ireland at an early 
day; was a soldier in the war of 1812; was a painter; died 
during the war by disease contracted while in the service. 
Benjamin Grimes, one of the early emigrants, settled in Heller's 
Bottom at quite an early day, and was many years a class 
leader in the Methodist Church; was married four times; died 



^6 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

several years since in Fayette county, Ohio. His son, George 
Grimes, is now living on vvhat is known as the Barger farm, near 
the village of Bourneville. On Mr. Grimes' farm is quite an ex- 
tensive circular fortification, containing about eight acres; the 
embankment is now some eight or ten feet in hight. Near Mr. 
Demoss' dwelling, a few years ago, while the hands were work- 
ing the public road, in digging into a bank they found an 
entire human frame of a very large size. Old settlers, William 
McCaule}^, Matthias Cooney ; physician, Isaac Verden. 

By Mrs. McKenzie, mother-in-law of Mr. William Igo. 

Her father, Daniel Hare, emigrgvted from Pennsylvania to 
Kentucky, and from there to Ohio, in 1796. Her husband's 
grandfather was a drum-major in the Eevolutionary war, and 
served seven years. Her husband, Mr. McKenzie, was in the 
war of 1812, as captain of a company for some time, when the 
companies were consolidated, which relieved him; died aged 
about eighty years. He was for many years a leader in the 
M. E. Church. Mrs. McKenzie says her father came to Ohio 
without bringing his family, for the purpose of hunting and 
laying up a supply of meat for the next summer. He first 
chopped down a large tree, and cut it off some twelve or fifteen 
feet long; this he sj)lit in two and dug them out in the shape 
of troughs; the one half he filled with buffalo, bear, deer, and 
wild turkey, and salted them down ; then placing the troughs 
together, one on top of the other, he covered it with a lot of 
brush so as to deceive the Indians, telling them that when he 
he came out in the spring, and the brush had become dry, he 
intended to burn that log up. In the spring when Mr. Hare 
and his family arrived, they found their meat all right. At 
one time Mr. Hare went to watch a deer lick, and after fixing 
up a blind and being seated some time, he heard something 
approaching him through the brush in his rear, and upon turn- 
ing around, near him, was a large panther crouching, and in 
the act of springing upon him; he fired his rifle at the panther, 
-when it made one terrible scream and took off through the 



'Twin Township. 57 



thick woods one way and Mr. Hare the other, fully satisfied to 
leave for the present. 

Mrs. McKenzie is now aged about seventy-nine years; she 
and her mother were the first two white women who settled on 
Paint creek. Her playmates were the 3'oung squaws, and she 
says, " many a romp have I had with them, and as fearless of 
danger as though they had been white children." "When we 
first settled on Paint creek, father had to go to Limestone for 
our meal and salt; some times we would use the hominy block 
in lieu of going to the mill for meal." At one time when her 
father was away from home, some Indians came to their cabin 
and asked her mother for salt, they being very fond of that 
article. The old lady refused to give them any. One Indian 
became enraged, and said: "My gun shoot by and by." But 
the old lady did not give them the salt, and they left seemingly 
much enraged. She, after they had left, feared they would 
return before her husband and do some mischief But they 
did not; and when he returned, she told him how the Indians 
had treated her in his absence, whereupon he went to tiie In- 
dian camp and informed their chief that one of his men had 
been at his cabin and insulted his wife. The chief called up the 
guilty Indian, and snatching the hatchet from Mr. McKenzie's 
belt, he beat the Indian over the head with it at a terrible 
rate. The Indian cried piteously during the castigation, and 
when the chief returned Mr. McKenzie's hatchet, he told him 
that that Indian would not trouble his family any more, and 
he did not. Mrs. McKenzie says her father was a great hunter 
in his time, and killed many bears, deer, turkeys, panthers, 
buffalo, etc. The buffalo used to mix with their farm cattle 
and were quite tame. Her father first settled near the big 
falls of Paint creek, on General Massie's land, and while living 
there she has heard the screams of the* panther and wolf in 
the night quite near their cabin. The first school teacher was 
David Eeed; the first preachers were William and Edward 
Carnes; the first school house was built on the lands now owned 
by Howard Newman. 



58 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

By William Jgo. 

His father, Lewis Igo, emigrated from Pennsylvania to 
Kentucky in the year 1794, and from Kentucky to Ohio in 
1798, and bought the first land on Twin creek from General 
McArthur. It was the first tract of land sold by him in the 
county. My informant, born and raised on the same farm, and 
still living on it, is now sixty years of age. His father, on first 
arriving in the country, procured meat for his family by hunt- 
ing in the dense forests of that then wilderness; and for meal, 
he made occasional trips to the mills in Kentucky, or manu- 
factured it himself by a hand-mill. When they first settled, 
their nearest neighbor was at the Slate Mills, on the north fork 
of Paint creek, where R. E. Seymore now lives. 

On Mr. Igo's farm is an old Indian trail, which leads from 
Pee Pee to Old Chillicothe. The trail in places is yet quite per- 
ceptible. 

My informant's brother, Paul Igo, who now resides in the 
State of Illinois, was the first white child born in Twin town- 
ship. He was born in February, 1799. 

I was shown, by my informant, a powder-horn and pouch 
that has been in use in the family over one hundred years. 
The strap is made of elk skin, and the pouch of buckskin. Its 
first owner was a great hunter, and has carried it thousands 
of miles through Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. 

Near the house, one night, Mr. Igo's father heard a dis- 
turbance among his sheep. He got up, and taking his loaded 
gun, went out to see what the trouble was, leaving his ammu- 
nition behind. He heard the dogs in full chase after some- 
thing, which they soon treed on a large stump several feet 
high. Upon drawing near, he discovered an animal of some 
kind on the stump, and, taking as good an aim as the darkness 
would admit, fired at it. He then called to his wife to bring 
him some ammunition and the ramrod, which he had left at the 
house in his haste. His wife soon brought the ammunition, 
but forgot the ramrod. There was near the stump a lot of blue- 



Twin Township. 59 



ash chips, where Mr. Igo had been hewing some puncheons. 
They raked the chips together, and he set fire to them, telling 
his wife that, as he could go more quickly back to the cabin after 
the ramrod, she had better await his return. The old lady, be- 
ing a little nervous, said she would not stay there, but go 
herself, which she did. By this time, Mr. Igo had quite a fire 
burning from his chip-pile, by the light of which he saw on the 
stump a large panther, his eyes glaring down upon his pur- 
suer like two balls of fire. Mr. Igo soon reloaded his trusty 
rifle, and fired the second shot, which took effect in the head of 
the panther, but too low down to penetrate the brain. The 
animal now began descending the stump backward, while Mr. 
Igo quickly reloaded his gun, and when the panther neared 
the ground, he fired again, the ball passing through its body, 
soon putting an end to its life. It measured nine feet from 
tip to tip. 

By Hetiry Pool. 

J. W. Pool, the father of Henry, emigrated from Maryland 
in 1813. He left his native State on the day of Perry's victory 
on Lake Erie; lived in Ohio exactly ten years, and died at the 
age of fifty; he was a blacksmith. Henry Pool is now sixty- 
five years of age. His father-in-law, George Vincent Heller, 
and also Jacob Yincent Heller, were in the Indian fight on 
Paint creek, at the Reeves' crossing. George was one of the 
chain-carriers who assisted in laying out the city of Chilli - 
cothe. 

Mrs. Henry Pool says that she lived in Heller's Bottom 
with her father for several years. She particularly remembers 
one winter. In February, a deep snow had fallen, and was 
followed by rain. Mr. Heller had several tenants on his land 
at the time, and among them one named Eussell, who lived 
with his family in a small cabin. On the evening of the storm, 
Mr. Heller told the men they had better move out of their 
bouses, as a flood was coming, and the bottom would be inun- 



6o Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

dated before morning. Mr. Heller's house being on high 
ground, they all moved to it with their families, except Eus- 
sell, who sent his family out, bat could not himself be per- 
suaded to leave his cabin. The water shortly began to rise, 
and soon flooded the lower part of the house. He then took a 
kettle, filled it with coals of fire, and ascended to the loft of the 
cabin. But soon the water began to make its appeai'ance there 
also, when he commenced calling for help, but amid the roar- 
ing of the flood it seems no one heard him. He finally took a 
cake of deer's tallow, which he found in the cabin loft, and, 
taking off" his shirt, tore it into strips, which he wrapped 
around the tallow, and then set it on fire with the coals in his 
kettle. Tearing off" a portion of the roof, and elevating his 
light on a pole, he soon attracted the attention of his friends, 
who came to his relief in a dug-out, and convej'ed him to safe 
ground. In the morning his cabin could nowhere be found, the 
flood having carried it away. During the inundation, says 
Mrs. Pool, one of the neighbors lost a fine two-year old heifer, 
and one day, when hunting for her, after the water had sub- 
sided, he found her hanging by the neck in the fork of a buck- 
eye tree, fourteen feet from the ground, quite dead. What 
would our farmers, living in Paint creek valley, say if such a 
flood should make its appearance in these days? 

Mr. Heller was one of the first farmers who brought 
sheep into the county. He was a local preacher and justice 
of the peace for many years. On the farm of Joseph Eoss, 
some years since, stood a largo hollow sycamore tree, with a 
hole cut in one side in the shape of a wedge, wide at the top, 
and cut down to a point, which is supposed to have been done 
by the Indians for the purpose of catching wolves, by placing 
meat on the inside so as to induce them to place their necks in 
this notch. Mr. Heller at one time started out to watch a deer 
lick, on the land he owned on Paint creek. After he had pre- 
pared his blind, and had been seated a short time, he saw a 
large bear jump up on a large poplar log near the lick, and in 
a few seconds a large panther made its appearance on the other 



Twin Township. 



end of the log. They made for each other, and when they met 
the bear struck the panther one powerful blow with his paw, 
and knocked him off. Mr. Heller did not stay to see the fight 
finished, but made a hasty exit for home. One day a Mr. 
Daniel Devoss, whose name appears in another place, and who 
lived on the ridge near what is called the Spruce hill, was out 
hunting his horses, when he met a neighbor's boy hunting 
cows, each having a dog with them. When passing along 
near the northwest side of the hill, the dogs commenced a furi- 
ous barking a short distance from them. When Mr. Devoss and 
the lad approached near the spot, they saw a large panther, 
who was jumping at their dogs from under some pine brush. 
When they came up the panther made a spring down the hill, 
the dogs following him, but they soon brought him to bay, 
and by clubs and stones, and the assistance of their noble dogs, 
quickly dispatched him. At another time Mr. Devoss was 
hunting his stock, which had strayed into Huntington town- 
ship, and on the farm formerly owned by Mr. Daniel Toops (an 
old settler), but now the property of Nathan Ward, near where 
the house now stands, he saw a large panther lying behind a 
log, which instantly sprang up and ran a short distance, and 
then stopped and looked at Mr. Devoss, who, having neither 
dogs nor gun, quietly retired and left him to his own reflec- 
rions. 



Ancient Works. 

Near Bourneville, and overlooking the beautiful valley of 
Paint creek, with the pretty town of Bainbridge in the dis- 
tance, is what is known as Spruce Hill, the name being derived 
from the large amount of spruce pine growing thereon. The 
crest of this hill, or mountain, is surrounded by a stone wall 
five or six feet in bight in some places, and from appearances 
has been much higher, but the hand of time has caused it to 
sink and crumble down. This wall surrounds the entire crest 
of the hill, or mountain, is almost circular in form, and is 



62 Pioneer Record of Ross County , Ohio. 

nearly three miles around. On this hill, within the inclosure, 
are found cinders, or dross, as if caused from the melting of 
some metallic substance. At the base of the hill, Paint creek 
flows over a bed of solid slate rock, and at low water may be 
seen two or three round holes, or wells, neatly cut out in the 
rock, about the size of an ordinary well, with closely fitting 
covers or lids over the top. 

On Joseph Baum's farm, near Bourneville, is an earth for- 
tification thrown up, which is now from three to four feet in 
hight, with outlets or gateways at each corner. The embank- 
ment, or wall, is formed in a perfect square, embracing about 
thirty acres. On the farm of George Baum, adjoining that of 
Joseph Baum, is quite a largo mound, from three to four hun- 
dred feet in circumference at the base, perfectly round, and 
some thirty feet in hight. On the line between the lands of 
John Storm and Joseph Baum, is another fortification, in shape 
resembling the letter J, containing twenty-five or thirty aci'es. 

Near the same place, on Mr. Baum's lapd, are three large 
pools, or basins, which were evidently scooped out by some 
race of people long since passed away. One of them is twenty 
or twenty-five feet in depth. There are large trees growing in 
these places, and near them are found pieces of broken earth- 
enware in abundance, human bones, teeth, etc. On the same 
farm is another work, built of stone, the whole resembling in 
shape a horse shoe. On the lands of the Messrs. Cochran, nu- 
merous pieces of earthenware have been found in plowing 
every spring from many years past. 



Buckskin 1'ownship. 6^, 



Buckskin Township, 



Township Officers. 

Justices of the Peace, John H. Ctirr, James Bell, and John 
Coder; Trustees, John Carr, Calvin Parrott, and John Murray;. 
Treasurer, D. O. Diggs; Clerk, Steward Evans; Constable, 
William Davis; Notary Public, Henry Hester; Land Ap- 
praiser, John Parrott; Postmaster, Levi Pricer — Office, South 
Salem. 

The village of South Salem contains about three hundred 
inhabitants, two stores, three blacksmith shops, two wagon 
shops, two carpenter shops, four churches (two Methodist, one 
Presbyterian, and one colored), one grist and saw mill, two 
school houses (one white and one colored), and one cemetery. 

By Henry Hester. 

His father emigrated to Ohio in 1804, from West Pennsyl- 
vania; was in the war of 1812 as a lieutenant of a company: 
served as clerk of the township for many years ; was by 
trade a millwright; died aged fifty-two years, in Chillicothe. 
James Wilson. John H. Wilson served many years as justice 
of the peace in the township, and was in the war of 1812; now 
dead. John Morton emigrated from South Carolina in early 
days; now living. First preachers, Rev. James Dickey, who was 
pastor of the church in South Salem for twenty years ; Hugh 
Fullerton was also a pastor for twenty years. Frederick Parrott 
was in the war of 1812. John Wallace served for man}- years 
as justice of the peace. Sattcrfield Scott served as county 
commissioner one term, and for many years as justice of the 
peace; now dead. 



64 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

By Alexander McGinnis. 

His father, James McGinnis, emigrated from Pennsylvania 
to Ohio in 1801 ; was in the war of 1812 ; was a shoemaker by- 
trade; was also a home hunter of considerable notoriety; he 
killed many deer and other game ; my informant says he would 
kill some days five or six deer, and hang them up in the woods, 
and then send him and his brother to bring them home; he 
died aged seventy-two years. His grandfather, James McGinnis, 
emigrated to Ohio at the same time ; served in the Eevolu- 
tionary war six years, and was wounded in the thigh with a 
ball which he carried to his grave ; lived in the township about 
twenty-two years ; was a shoemaker ; died aged eighty years, 
and retained almost the vigor of youth to near his death. 
Alexander McGinnis is now sixty-nine years of age, and has 
lived in the township about sixty years; is a local preacher 
of the Methodist Church. He says the first house built in 
South Salem was by a Mr. Douglas, in 1846 or 1847, and he built 
the third one in the place. His wife's maiden name was Tay- 
lor ; her father emigrated from New Jersey, in early days, to 
Ohio, and served in the war of 1812 ; was at Hull's surrender ; he 
was an elder of the Presbyterian Church for forty years, and 
died aged eighty-two years. George Pricer, Michael Hare, 
Robert Edminston, Jacob Davis, Abram Dean, Robert McGinnis, 
Captain Nathan Kilgore, and Captain Daniel Hare, were all in 
the war of 1812. 

Row Buckskin Derived its Name. 

Buckskin creek derived its name in the following manner: 
At the time of the settlement of the township, the Indians had 
a camp at Old Chillicothe (now Frankfort), and they made a 
raid among the white settlers, stole some horses, and committed 
other depredations along said creek. When the whites made a 
search for them, they found them camped near the creek on the 
land now owned by Daniel Cline, where stood a very hollow 
sycamore, which had a large opening in the side at the root. 



Buckskin Township. 65 



In this hollow the Indians had hung their skins— mostly deer— 
and built a fire under them for the purpose of drying them. 
When the whites attacked them, the Indians fled, leaving their 
skins to the whites. This circumstance gave the name to Buck- 
skin creek, and afterward to the township. 

By Doctor Hamilton. 

He emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1839. He 
built the house in which he now resides, in South Salem, in 1847, 
and has practiced medicine in that vicinity ever since ; was 
educated at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, and attended the 
University of his native State. After moving to South Salem 
he was very instrumental in building up the village, and 
especially the Academy. 

By Willis Graham. 

His father, whose name was George, emigrated from the 
State of Maryland in 1804; served as a soldier in the war of 
1812; was a carpenter and cabinet-maker; died aged eighty- 
four years and ten months. 

By Joseph Vanderman. 

His father, whose name was John, emigrated from Penn- 
sylvania to Ohio in 1800; he and his brother Frederick were in 
the Eevolutionary war, and took an active part in the battle of 
Brandywino; they served under General George Washington. 
John Vanderman was a tanner; was a great hunter, and de- 
pended upon his rifle for sustenance for himself and family for 
several years in the first settlement of the country. At one 
time the Indians stole a fine bay mare from him; he and a 
younger man gave chase, and trailed them for several miles, 
when they found themselves surrounded by the savages, 
but they boldly dashed through them and made their escape. 
He died aged eighty-six or seven years. Joseph Vanderman 
served at one time as lieutenant of a militia company : never 
held any other office, though often solicited. His brothers, 



66 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

John, Matthias, Conrad, and Henry, were all in the war of 1812, 
except Conrad, who died on his way to the army. He was a 
finely educated young man, and died beloved by all who knew 
him. 

By Mrs. Frances Wilson. 

Her husband, John H. Wilson, emigrated from Pennsyl- 
vania to Wheeling, Virginia, and thence to Kentucky. In 1800, 
he came to Ohio. He was in the war of 1812 ; served as justice 
of the peace for sometime; was a consistent member of the 
Presbyterian Church for a great many years, and died at South 
Salem in 18G5, aged eighty-seven. 

By John G. Caldwell. 

His father, James Caldwell, emigrated to Ohio in 1805 ; 
was sergeant of his company under Captain Kilgore, and served 
his township for many years as justice of the peace and clerk, 
etc.j he also taught school in different townships for several 
years. His son has several books, in manuscript, written by 
him, of a religious nature ; he died aged sixty-three years. 
The following statistics, taken from some of his old books, and 
papers published in 1827, which had been preserved by his father, 
may be interesting to our readers : 

Associate Judges of Ross County in 1827, Isaac Cook, 
James Armstrong, and Thomas Hicks; Clerk of Courts, Su- 
preme and Common Pleas, Recorder and Clerk of the United 
States District Court, Humphrey Fullerton ; Sheriff, Thomas 
Steel; Coroner, Joscphus Collet; Commissioners, John Mc- 
Clain, Wm. Wallace, and E. Fenimore ; Notary Public, John 
A. Fulton ; Postmaster, William Creighton ; Justices of the 
Peace, Levi Belt, and Wm. Creighton, Sen.; Attorneys-at-law, 
Wm. K. Bond, Joseph Sill, Piatt Brush, Tho5._Scott, Richard 
Douglas, Wm. Creighton, Jr., Edward King, Henry Brush, 
Samuel Treat, and Levi Belt; Physicians, John Edminaton, 
Joseph Scott, James Hayes, Samuel Monett, Jr., Samuel McAdow, 



Buckskin I'ownship. 67 



and William Heath; Merchants, John Carlisle (wholesale and 
retail), W. E. Southard, John Walker, T. V. & S. Swearen- 
gin, Barr & Campbell, Bphraim Doolittle, Wm. McFarland, Wm. 
Eoss & Co., John McCoy, JSTimrod Hutt, Waddle & Davison, 
Isaac Evans, John Hutt, James Culbertson & Co., Eunkle & 
Beard, James Phillips, John McLandburgh, Amasa Delano, 
David Kinkead & Humphrey Fullerton, Thomas Orr, Marquis 
Huling, Waddle & Dunn, James McClintock, Wm. McDowell 
& Co., Samuel Taggart, James Miller & Co., John McDougal, 
Austin Buchanan, Wm. Irwin, Drayton M. Curtis, and Samuel 
Monett; Innkeepers, Edmund Bayse, Thomas Cohen, Daniel 
Madeira, James Phillips, and Benjamin Woods. 

Town Council of Chillicothe in 1827. 

Levi Belt, Mayor; Jeremiah McLean, Eecorder; Benjamin 
Hough, Treasurer; Isaac Cook, W. E. Southard, John Waddle, 
James McDougal, David Kinkead, and George Nashee. 

Bank of Chillicothe — Thomas James, President, and John 
Woodbridge, Cashier; Farmers', Mechanics', and Manufacturers' 
Bank of Chillicothe — Thomas S. Hyde, President; John P. 
Fessenden, Cashier. 

The following lines are taken from a copy of the Scioto 
Gazette of 1815 : 

THE YEARS TO COME. 

My transient hour, my little day, 
Is speeding fast, how fast away ; 
Already hath ray summer sun 
Half its race of brightness run. 
Ah me! I hear the wintry blast, 
My "Life of Life" will soon be past; 
The flush of youth will all be o'er, 
The throb of joy will throb no more, 
And fancy, mistress of my lyre, 
Will'cease to lend her sacred fire. 
My trembling heart — prepare, prepare, 
For skies of gloom, and thoughts of care; 



68 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

Sorrows and wants will make thee weep 
,And fears of age will o'er thee creep. 
Health that smil'd in blooming pride ; 
Will cease to warm thy sluggish tide; 
The shaft of pain, the point of woe, 
Will bid the current cease to flow. 
And who, alas, shall then be nigh 
To soothe me with affection's sigh, 
To press my feeble hand in theirs, 
To plead for me in silent prayers. 
And cheer me with those hopes that shed 
Kapturc o'er a dying bed. 
Days of the future cease to roll, 
Upon my wild, afl"righted soul. 
Mysterious fate, I will not look 
Within thy dark eventful book; 
Enough for me to feel and know, 
That love and hope must shortly go; 
That joy will vanish, fancy fly. 
And death dissolve the closest tie. 
E'en now, while moans my pensive rhyme 
I list the warning voice of time; 
And oh! this sigh, this start of fear, 
Tells me the night will soon be here. 

By Mrs. Matilda Hitchcock. 

Her father, whose name was John Proud, emigrated to 
Ohio from New Jersey in 1801 ; he served as a soldier in the 
war of 1812 ; he was constable of his township for many years ; 
was a great hunter and paid for his farm, on which my in- 
formant, with her husband, now resides, in pelts and furs. He 
bought his land from General McArthur. He first lived two 
years on what was formerly known as the old Read farm, near 
Bourneville, when he moved to Buckskin township, which, 
at that time, was a howling wilderness, there being no settle- 
ment north within twenty miles. When he vvas moving to his 
new home in the woods, he took his familj'' and a part of his 
goods to his cabin, and leaving them in care of his wife, 



Buckskin Township. 69 



returned for the balance, ^y some cause he was delayed until 
the next day, leaving his family in their solitary cabin, which 
his wife had to defend all night, standing with the ax in her 
hands to keep the wolves out, as it had no door except what 
was very commonly substituted in those days, a blanket or 
quilt. He was a great hunter, and, at the age of seventy 
years, with spectacles on, he would kill squirrels from the tops 
of the highest forest trees with his rifle. He was a man of no 
education, but of a great mind— one of nature's true noblemen. 
He died at the age of seventy-four years. 

By Samuel Br ad en. 

His father, Eobert Braden, emigrated from Pennsylvania 
in 1800. He was in the war of 1812, and lived in Buckskin 
township forty-two years, where he died at the age of seventy- 
one years. My informant has been a resident of the township 
for seventy years, and is now aged seventy-three years. Old 
settlers, David Edminston, Robert Bdminston, Eobert Holding, 
J. Wilson, Benjamin McCline, Michael Hare, Eobert Young, 
Jacob Davis. 

By C. W. Price. 

The village of Lyndon, on Marietta and Cincinnati Rail- 
road, contains two stores, a grocery, a blacksmith shop, a car- 
penter shop, a wagon shop, a hominy mill, a planing mill, a 
saw and flouring mill, town hall, school house, and post-office. 
Number of inhabitants about 100. 

By Abram Price. 

His father, William Price, emigrated to Ohio from Yir- 
ginia in 1820, and died aged sixty years. My informant has 
served his township as treasurer for several years, and was a 
store-keeper in Lyndon. 

By E. F. Coiner. 

His father, Robert Coiner, emigrated from Virginia in 
1836, and served for many years as justice of the peace and 



70 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio, 

deacon in the Presbyterian Church, was sergeant of a company 
in the war of 1812; is now a notary public, and aged about 
seventy-six years. 

By John Howard. 

His father, Adam, emigrated from Rockingham county, Vir- 
ginia, to Ohio, in 1809. He served as a soldier in the war of 
the. Revolution, and died at the age of seventy-two years. My 
informant served one term as director of the infirmary of Ross 
countj^ and has lived in the township fifty-eight years. Old 
settlers, Joseph Warnuch and Leeman. Warnuch served as a 
soldier in the war of the Revolution. J. Ricketts served as 
a soldier in the French war. Anderson Bryan served in the 
war of the Revolution. 

By William Tharp. 

His father, Daniel Tharjj, emigrated from Rockingham 
county, Virginia, in 1810, and died aged seventy-three years. 
My informant served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and at the 
time the war broke out, he was in Columbus, Ohio, making 
brick. He helped to make the brick for the old State House. 
He says in 1812 the place was but a village. On Mr. John 
Depoy's farm there has been, as is supposed, an ancient camp 
ground of the Indians, where many arrows of different sizes 
and shape may be found. In early days, on what is called the 
muddy fork of Buckskin, there was a beaver dam constructed 
across that stream, which remained, in part, for many years. 
Old settlers, James E. and Alex. Kerr, James Watt, Abram 
Stookey, Jacob Hire, John Fernour, John Sample (the latter 
was captain of a company in the war of 1812), William Grant, 
John Wallace, Robert Dubois, and James Dickey. Revs. Pit- 
tinger and Johnston were the first preachers. Mr. Tharp has an 
old-fashioned churn, which his family uses at the jjresent day, 
and which is over one hundred years old. The churn is 
made from the wood of the cypress. 



Buckskin Township. 71 



By Robert D. Patterson. 

He was a carpenter, and moved from Highland to Buck- 
ekin township in 1841, and has served his township as con- 
stable for several years. He also served as one of the deputies 
for sheriffs Ghormley and Adams. 

By Crawford Caldwell. 

He emigrated to Ohio from Ireland in the first settlement 
of the country; served as a soldier in the war of 1812; has 
been a resident of the township for seventy years, and is now 
aged about eighty years. Old settlers, Jarret Ervvin ; William 
Smith, who served in the Kevolutionary war ; John McLean, 
also a Eevolutionary soldier; Kobert Holliday, who fought at 
the battle of Trenton, and Alexander Scroggs. 

By John Lucas. 

Ezra Lucas, his father, was born at Marietta, Ohio, and 
moved to Eoss county in 1811. He was in the war of 1812, 
was a cooper, and died aged about seventy-five years. His 
grandfather, Isaac Lucas, was one of the first settlers at Ma- 
rietta. He came from Boston, served seven years in the Revo- 
lutionary war, and was at the battle of Bunker Hill. 

By Robert Wilson. 

He was born near Pittsburg, in 1781, and from there he 
removed to near Wheeling, where, he says, he saw the body 
of the first person killed by the Indians near that place— a man 
named Robert Edgar. In 1797 or 1798 he moved to near Flem- 
ingsburg, Kentucky, and, in the fall of 1800, to Ohio, where he 
settled on Buckskin creek, near South Salem, on a fixrm his 
father had bought the previous year, when there were but three 
or four families living on the creek. In those early days, he 
says, the farmers turned their horses and cattle loose in the 
woods, to feast themselves on the luxurious herbage which 
grew so plentifully, and when they were needed they would 
have to be hunted in the deep forests, as they sometimes strayed 
many miles from home. On those occasions he invariably 



72 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

carried his trusty rifle for protection and to kill game. He also 
says that he has killed raany bears in those hills, and some- 
times when they were feasting upon some of their hogs. The 
bear will not take time to kill a hog before eating, but as soon 
as it is caught will commence devouring it, the hog squealing 
as long as he has life. He says he has often been attracted to 
the place by the squealing of the hogs and killed the bear. 
Sometimes the hogs would return home with the flesh all torn 
from their backs. The wolves were also very plentiful and 
destructive to the sheep and pigs. "I was in the woods," says 
he, " one day, when my dog came running to me much 
frightened, and I saw, in a few moments, five large wolves in 
full chase after him. I fired and succeeded in killing one, when 
the balance made their escape into the forest. 

"Our cabin was often visited by the Indians, who encamped 
on the creek near us, for days at a time, to hunt game. In 
1802, after Ohio became a State, emigration increased in our 
neighborhood, and we began to have religious services. The 
first sermon preached in Buckskin was in the woods, on my 
father's farm, near where Major Irwin's house now stands, 
by two Presbyterian ministers, named Marcus and Dunlevy. 
After the service was closed, Father Irwin arose and made a 
short exhortation, and closed by saying: ' These ministers can 
not live upon the wind, therefore I propose to take up a collec- 
tion,' when taking up his hat he threw into it a silver dollar, 
and passing it around collected several dollars. The first 
church edifice erected was a small log building, near the resi- 
dence of James A.Wallace. The first minister who remained any 
length of time was the Eev. Eobert B. Dobbins, who was with 
us three or four years; the next was the Eov. James H. Dickey, 
who remained twenty-seven years." 

My informant says: "I bought the farm I now live upon in 
1804, and in 1805 did the first woi'k on it ; I cut the date — Feb- 
ruary 15, 1805 — in the bark of a beech tree which stands near 
my residence ; the tree is still standing, and the date is quite 
perceptible. In the same year, I planted some apple trees, 



Buckskin Township. 73 



which still bear fruit. I was married and settled on my farm 
in 1812, where I have lived ever since. In the summer of 1813, 
I was in the service of the United States as a soldier, having 
been called out to protect the frontier just after Fort Meigs had 
been besieged by the British, and was most of the time stationed 
at Lower Sandusky. I was a member of a rifle or light com- 
pany belonging to a battalion commanded by Major Robert 
Harper. Before we were discharged, my brother-in-law, John 
Halliday, and mj^self had our horses sent to us to ride home, 
and we turned them into a largo pasture near the fort, 
till the time of our discharge. Halliday went out one day 
to salt the horse?, and, after having gone some distance in the 
pasture, he heard a noise behind him near the fence, and look- 
ing around saw a party of Indians making for him; he started 
back on ' double quick time.' A.fter running about halfway 
across the pasture, he looked over his shoulder and saw one 
large Indian in advance of the others, so close that he could 
see the white of his eyes, which gave renewed impetus to 
his speed. On nearing the fence he looked for a favorable 
spot to cross, and to his great joy he saw a place where there 
was a wide space between the top rail of the fence and the 
rider; he made for it, and, without touching the fence, bounded 
thi'ough into the thick woods, and eluded his pursuers, and 
making a circuit of some miles got safely back to the fort." 

Mr. Wilson is yet living and quite spry; his age is about 
eighty -nine years. 

By Colonel William Collier. 

His father. Captain James Collier, was born in Dauphin 
county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1752. When the colonies de- 
clared their independence, Mr. Collier took a decided stand 
in their favor. In 1776, he commanded a company in an 
expedition known as the Flying Camp; they rendezvoused 
at Lancaster, from there they marched to New York, took an 
active part in the battle of Long Island, and assisted in several 
skirmishes up the North river. They also fought at the battle 



74 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

of White Plains, and were with General "Washington during his 
retreat through New Jersey. He also assisted in the capture 
of the Hessians at Trenton, and in 1777 was in the battle of 
Brandywine; also, was in several skirmishes at the White House. 
He and his company participated in the terrible sufferings at 
Valley Forge, where they were encamped for some time with 
General Washington. In 1778, Captain Collier was given com- 
mand of a company by the authorities of the State of Penn- 
sylvania, and ordered to Northumberland county to guard the 
frontier against the Indians. At Sunbury he joined a State 
regiment, and was stationed at Fort Muncie, on the west branch 
of the Susquehanna. He took an active part at the battle of 
Freeland's Fort. Having no command at this place, he volun- 
teered to bring in the dead. In 1779, he received a commission 
to enlist a company of rangers to serve during the war, in 
which he continued until its close. For his gallantry he was 
presented by General Lafayette with a fine sword, which is 
still in the family. 

In 1814, he came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, and settled 
in Buckskin township, where he lived till the year 1844, when 
death called him away, lamented and beloved by all who knew 
him. 



Pax ton Township. 75 



Paxton Township, 



Township Officers. 

Justices of the Peace, J. M. Pearce and Charles Robbins 
Trustees, A. W. Seymore, A. Ferneaur, and J. W. Forneaur 
Constable, Samuel Tweed; Township Clerk, Charles Robbins 
Treasurer, J. H. Huling; Land Appraiser, Austin Pepple; At 
torneys, A. O. Hewett, J. R. Whitney, Lee S. Estel, and S. M 
Penn. 

Officers of the Town of BaSnbridge. 

Mayor, Lee S. Estel ; Marshal, William Rittenhouse; City 
Council, Charles Robbins, Samuel Townsend, Dr. S. C. RobertSj 
John H. Huling, and Robert X. Ivens; Recorder, A. E. Mc- 
Goffin ; Postmaster, A. B. McGoffin. 

Number of Stores, etc. 

Eleven stores and groceries, one drug store, three black- 
smiths, two wagon -makers, two harness makers, four shoe? 
makers, two tinners, one silversmith, two tanneries, four doc- 
tors, one saloon, one pump-maker, one hotel, one boarding house, 
two barbers, one bakery, one butcher, one carpenter, two man- 
tua-makers, two painters, one stoneyard, one Presbj-terian 
and three Methodist churches (including one colored), one 
union school and one colored school, three parsonages, and one 
National Bank by Rockhold & Co. Number of inhabitants, 900. 

By Elijah Rockhold 

His father, Joseph Rockhold, emigrated from Pennsylvania 
to Ohio in 1797, and settled first at the Highbank Prairie; 
moved from there to Paxton township in 1800; served as cap- 



76 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

tain of a company during the war of 1812, and his township 
for twenty-seven years as justice of the peace; he died at the 
age of eighty -five years. 

Old Settlers. 

Thomas and Captain William Stockton served during the 
war of 1812. Amos and Joseph Eeeder. Christian Benner 
built the first iron works at the Little Falls of Paint creek ; he 
emigrated from Germany to Ohio at a very early day. Henry 
Benner served as justice of the peace and captain of militia for 
many years. John Benner was born in Pennsylvania, and 
when but a small child, came with his parents to Ohio. Here 
he studied for, and was admitted to the bar, but soon left his 
practice, as his father needed his aid on the farm. He was a 
good neighbor, highly respected and loved by all who knew 
him. He died September 13, 1869, aged sixty-seven years. At 
the time of his death, he held the oflSce of mayor of Bainbridge 
and justice of the peace. The first mill was built by Jacob 
Smith, at the Big Falls of Paint creek ; first hotel was kept by 
John Torbett; first postmaster was Elijah Kelly, a blacksmith, 
who was also justice of the peace for many years. Mary Eock- 
hold, mother of Elijah, is one of the oldest ladies in the county, 
being now ninety-four years of age. She is in good health, and 
retains her mind to a remarkable degree. The author was in- 
troduced to her one evening by her son, when he awkwardly 
addressed her : "Why, you are a pretty old lady." She an- 
swered: "I am old, but not pretty, and never was." She is 
now living with her son in Bainbridge. Mrs. Eockhold says 
one of the first hotels was kept by Mr. Christian Platter, who 
was also a miller. The first store was kept by Enos Folk. 

By Jacob Gault, of Bainbridge. 

Mr. Gault emigrated to Ohio from Virginia in 1790, and 
served in the war of 1812; his captain was Mr. Joseph Eock- 
hold. Mr. Gault was at Hull's surrender, and at the siege of 
Lower Sandusky, under General William Henry Harrison ; ho 



Pax ton Township. 77 



Borved during the war; was afterward captain of a rifle com- 
pany of militia. He went from Bainbridge to Kentucky, and 
drove the carriage that conveyed Henry Clay to his home in 
that State when on his return from the treaty of Ghent, and re- 
mained with that celebrated statesman and patriot eight days 
at his own mansion. Mr. Clay's wife and daughter, and a gen- 
tleman by the name of Brown, were in the carriage with them. 
Mr. Gault says Mr. Clay was a fine violin player, and they had 
quite a pleasant trip. Mr. Gault used to drive team over the 
mountains from Chillicothe to the Bast for goods for the 
Messrs. Campbell, in early days ; he is now living, and over 
eighty years of age. He says in his younger days he was a lit- 
tle wild, which, of course, most men are. He relates the follow- 
ing as one of his boyish pranks : He was working at the old 
Eeeves' tannery, two miles east of Bainbridge, and in the neigh- 
borhood there was a young lady and gentleman who were en- 
gaged to be married. The day had been set and all the usual 
preparations made, but from some cause or other (my informant 
does not state whether his good looks had anything to do with 
the matter or not), the young lady repented, and, in her dis- 
tress, applied to Mr. Gault and asked: "What shall I do ? or 
where shall I fly?" He told her that in the cellar of the tan- 
nery, there was a large hogshead in which, if she wished, she 
-could hide, and he would see that she was cared for, which 
kind ofter the young lady accepted, and, together, they, on the 
evening when the twain were to have been united, hied off to the 
cellar, and the young lady, assisted by her gallant, entered the 
hogshead, when he covered it over with large pieces of tan bark, 
and day after day, for eight days, she remained in her prison- 
house, my informant conveying her food. On the evening of the 
eighth day, Mr. Gault procured a carriage and conveyed the lady 
to Lancaster, Ohio, and thus she eluded her would-be-husband. 

From McDonald's Sketches, pp. 57, 58. 

"In the year 1795, while Wayne was in treaty with the 
Indians, a company came out from Manchester, on the Ohio 



78 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

river, to explore the Northwestern Territory, and especially the 
valley of the Scioto. General Massie was in this little band. 
After proceeding several days cautiously, they fell on Paint 
creek, near the falls. Here they found fresh Indian signs, and 
had not traveled far before they heard the bells on the horses. 
Some of the company were what was called raw hands, and pre- 
vious to this wanted much 'to smell Indian powder.' One of 
the company, who had fought in the Eevolutionary war, and 
also with the Indians, said to one of these vaunting fellows: 
'If 3'ou do, you will run, or I am mistaken.' A council was 
now called. Some of the most experienced thought it was too 
late to retreat, and thought it best to take the enemy by sur- 
prise. General Massie, Fallenach, and E. W. Finley were 
to lead on the company, and Captain Petty was to bring up the 
rear. The Indians were encamped on Paint creek, precisely at 
what is called Eeeves' Crossing. They came on them by sur- 
prise, and out of forty men, about twenty of them fought. 
Those fellows who wanted to smell powder so much, ran the 
other way, and hid behind logs, and Captain Petty reported 
afterward that they had the ague, they were so much affrighted. 
The battle was soon ended in favor of the whites, for the In- 
dians fled across the creek, and left all they had but their guns. 
Several were killed and wounded, and one white man, a Mr. 
Eobinson, was shot through the body, and died immediately. 
These Indians had one male prisoner with them, who made his 
escape to the whites, and was brought homo to his relatives. 
As soon as the company could gather up all the horses and 
skins, and other plunder, they retreated for the settlement at 
Manchester, on the Ohio river. Night overtook them on the 
waters of Scioto Brush creek, and as they expected to be fol- 
lowed by the Indians, they made preparation for the skirmish. 
The next morning, an hour before day, the attack was made 
with vigor on the part of the Indians, and resisted as manfully 
by a few of the whites. There being a sink-hole near, those 
bragging cowards got down into it, to prevent the balls from hit- 
ting them. Several horses were killed, and one man, a Mr. 



Paxton Township. 79 



Gilfillan, shot through the thigh. Aftei' an hour's contest, the 
Indians retreated ; and the company arrived at the phice they 
started from, having lost one man, and one man wounded." 

By Samuel Peacock. 

His grandfather, Martin Gilmore, was in the battle of 
Reeves' Crossing above mentioned, and in the fight became 
separated from the company; two Indians gave chase; he ran 
to where Reeves' mill stands, and crossing the creek, turned 
and fired on the Indians, killing one of them, and had the sat- 
isfaction of seeing his carcass float down the stream. The In- 
diansfiredon himseveraltimes, butdid nothit him, and hefinally 
made his way in safety back to his company. He moved from 
Amsterdam to Bainbridge, where he lived for many years. He 
raised one of the first cabins in the place, and carried on the 
tailoring business. John Thompson served a term of years as 
commissioner of Ross county. 

By George Free. 

His father, Frederick Free, emigrated to Ohio from Yir- 
ginia at a very early day, accompanied with his family, in- 
cluding George, who has now been a resident of the township 
for sixty years. He was called out during the war of 1812, but 
furnished a substitute by the name of David McClellan. Near 
his residence was a stream called Cliff run, a branch of Paint 
creek, which, for natural scenery, can not easily be surpassed.. 
Its banks in places rise to the hight of fifty or sixty feet, of 
solid limestone, almost perpendicular, and on the top are inter- 
spersed with pine, which give the cliffs a beautiful appearance. 
At the point where this stream enters Paint creek, and for two 
miles above, are also cliffs, on either side, of limestone, rising 
sometimes nearly one hundred feet, with caves extending from 
fifteen to twenty feet and of considerable dimensions. Mr. 
Free's wife was a daughter of William Warniek, who was a sub- 
scriber to the Scioto Gazette for fifty years. 



8o Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

By Joseph Ogle. 

He emigrated to Ohio from Kentucky about the year 1800 ; 
wa8 born in Maryland ; was in the war of 1812 in Captain Jos- 
eph Rockhold's company; was a home hunter, and has killed 
many bear, deer, and other game. He hauled wood for the use 
of the first legislature, which convened at Chillicothe. He is 
now nearly eighty-eight years of age. His wife was a daughter 
of Abram Pepple, who emigrated from Maryland to Kentucky, 
and from Kentucky to Ohio, in 1808. Her brother Abram was 
in the war of 1812. Old settlers, William Kent, Nathan 
Eeeves, and John Ferneaur. The first preachers in the neigh- 
borhood were Rev. Wm. Mick and Rev. J. B. Finley. Mrs. Ogle 
says she has heard Mr. Finley preach many times. He used 
to preach to the Indians, and had a colored man to interpret 
for him. 

By Joseph Platter. 

His father. Christian Platter, emigrated from Kentucky 
to Ohio in 1800; served his township in different offices for 
many years; built the mill on Paint creek known as the Platter 
mill, and died aged seventy-seven years. Joseph has served as 
township oflScer in diff'erent capacities for many years. He 
says near Bainbridge is a bank of red clay which some of the 
neighbors have used for painting their buildings, supjDosed to 
be the same with which the Indians used to paint themselves 
at the Big Falls of Paint. The water pours over a solid lime- 
stone rock, and falls about eight or ten feet, and just below there 
is another fall, but not so great. 

By Robert Dill. 

His father Robert Dill, Sen., and Thomas Dill, emigrated, in 
the first place, from Pennsylvania to Kentucky. From there 
they came to Ohio in 1800, and erected one of the first cabins 
that was built in the township. Robert Dill, Sen., served as jus- 
tice of the peace for several years. Indians were very plenty 
when they first came to Ohio, and would often call at their cabin. 
Mr. Dill was a home hunter. Deer were so plenty that they 



Paxton Township. 8i 

were often killed for their skins alone. At one time, while out 
on a hunt, he had quite a fight with wolves, there being some 
ten or fifteen of them, but escaped without harm. Mr. Dill, on 
making his first payment for his land, had to go to Pennsyl- 
vania. To make it, he started on horseback with about $1,500 
in his saddle-bags, and on the way his horse, by some means, 
escaped from him, and started off with the money. After a 
hard chase and much anxiety of mind, he overhauled him and 
found all safe. Todd's trace passed immediately in front of 
the house in which he now resides. He has served his town- 
ship as an officer in different capacities from time to time. His 
father died aged seventy-one years. 

Ancient Works. 

On Mr. Dill's farm are six ancient mounds, of different 
sizes, from twenty to thirty feet in hight, and on Mr. Eichard 
Dill's farm is an ancient fort or fortification containing about 
twenty-four acres, which is a perfect square. The embankment 
is from three to four feet in hight, and, at regular intervals, there 
are low places or gaps. On Mr. Thomas Blackstone's farm is a 
circular formed work, containing some seventeen acres. The 
embankment is three or four feet in hight. All of these works 
seem to have been subjected to fire at some time, as there is 
found on them ashes and coals ; pieces of earthenware, some of 
fine workmanship, have been found in and about them. Kear 
some of these works freestone rocks, finely dressed, are found, 
some of them of an oblong shape, three by four feet, with the 
corners rounded off. One of these mounds is coated with 
gravel some eighteen inches in depth, and surrounded by a 
stone wall some three feet in hight. Several years since this 
mound was opened, and a skeleton was found in the inside, in a 
sitting posture, surrounded with stone. 

By Thomas Blackstone. 

His father, John Blackstone, emigrated from Virginia to 
Ohio in 1802, and was in the war of 1812. He was also at the 
defeat of St. Clair. During the fight he became very thirsty, 



82 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

and lay down to take a drink. Not knowing they were de- 
feated, he was soon informed of that fact by another soldier, 
by the name of Black, who, when flying past and seeing him 

lying there, called to him and said : " Blackstone ! d it, 

why don't you run?" He rose and found the whole army in 
flight. But he soon was up with them. He died aged seventy, 
two years. He was a great hunter, and killed many bear, deer, 
wolves, and other game. One of his neighbors went to a deer 
lick at one time, and saw what he supposed to be the ears of a 
bear through the brush, working back and forth, as though 
keeping off the flies, when he up with his gun and fired. When 
the gun cracked he heard the tingle of a bell, and, upon going 
to the spot, to his surprise he found, instead of a bear, his own 
yearling colt. 

By B. C. Carson, of Bainbridge. 

The first tannery in Paxton township was sunk by Nathan 
Eeeves, two miles east of Bainbridge, at the crossing of Paint. 
He also kept a ferry boat at said crossing. Eeeves emigrated 
from Virginia, with the Carsons, about the year 1798. Mr. 
Carson's father, Eobert, settled in Highland county when New 
Market was the county seat, one mile west of where Hills- 
borough was laid out, where he sunk a tannery. The first 
school house was built on the farm of Christian Platter. It 
was also the first preaching place in the township. General 
Massie was one of the first settlers in the township, two miles 
west of Bainbridge. He laid out a town north of Paint creek, 
at the Great Falls, which was named Amsterdam. Here he 
built a grist mill and still house on the north side and a saw 
mill on the south. It was, however, very sickly, so he laid out 
Bainbridge, and it proving more healthy, Amsterdam was 
vacated. He also built a furnace on his farm, above town. 
Amos Folk was the first merchant in Bainbridge. He brought 
his goods from Chillicothe, in the first place, in saddle-bags. 
B. Kelly was the first blacksmith and justice of the peace. 
Austin Southard was the first shoemaker. These three families 



Paxton 'Township. 83 



composed the town for two or more years. Massie's mills, 
still house, and furnace are all gone. D. C. Carson was born 
in 1799, in all probability the first white male child born in the 
township. There has been fourteen still houses built in the 
township, but at this time there are none. Near Bainbridge 
are two fine sulphur springs, very strong, and perhaps as good 
as any in the State. 

By Mr. Hoiuard Newman, of Twin Township. 

On Mr. Price Taylor's farm, in Paxton township, stood a 
large mound, which Mr. Newman worked into brick some 
years ago. In this mound he found numerous human bones, 
some of a very lai-ge size, sometimes almost the entire frame. 
Some of the skulls were in a good state of preservation, con- 
taining the entire teeth. He found the center of the mound 
seemed to be filled with decayed matter, perhaps of human 
bodies; among this he found charcoal, pieces of lead, etc. 
Mr. Newman worked on this mound some three years before 
he made it up into brick. 



84 Pioneer Recora of Ross County^ Ohio. 



Liberty Township, 



Township Officers. 

Justices of the Peace, Elijah Humphrey and T. B. Er- 
skine; Trustees, Joseph Thomas, Madison Arganbright, and 
J. W. Drummond ; Treasurer, Samuel G. GrlflSn; Clerk, Elisha 
Murphy; Constables, Thomas GJ-rubb and Charles Parrott ; 
Land Appraiser, Levi Jones ; Postmaster, Thomas Katliff. 

The village of Londonderry contains about two hundred 
Inhabitants, one M. E. Church, cemetery, two stores, three gro- 
ceries, two hotels, five blacksmith shops, one school house, one 
saddlery, two shoemaker shops, one silversmith and gunsmith, 
three phj^sicians. 

For the above I am indebted to Mr. Samuel G. Griffin, 
father of Mr. P. G. Griffin, clerk of the court of Eoss county. 
Mr. Griffin emigrated to Ohio from Virginia in 1831, and is now 
aged about sixty-nine years. . He has served his township as 
treasurer for thirty-two years, and justice of the peace for sev- 
eral years. 

Ancient Works. 

On Mr. Thomas Orr's and Milton Jones' farms, near the 
bank of the Scioto river, is quite a large earthwork, several feet 
in hight, in an eight-square shape, with a gap at each corner. 
The inclosure contains about fifteen acres. On the same lands, 
near the river bank, is another earthwork, thrown up in a per- 
fect circle, containing about twenty or twenty -five acres, with a 
lane or gap dug out leading down to the water's edge. 

On Mr. Daniel Harness' farm is another of those ancient 
works, square shaped, and in the center is a small mound six 
or eight feet in hight, the wall containing within it about eight 



Liberty 'Township. 85 

acres. Mr. Harness says on his farm, on the bank of the Scioto 
river, where the water had washed some of the bank away, 
were found at one time quite a large number of leaden balls of 
different sizes and shapes, some of them weighing an ounce or 
more, perhaps in all half a bushel, indicating that at some time 
there had been quite a severe battle there. He also states there 
was found on his farm a large stone pipe, weighing one pound, 
with the shape of a human face neatly cut upon it. Near the 
same place was found a marble or stone ball as large as a 
good sized apple, perfectly round and smooth, with a hole 
through the center, with many other curiously cut stones and 
darts. On Mr. Ed. Harness' farm is another of those mounds, 
which is about one hundred feet long, sixty feet wide, and fif- 
teen to eighteen feet in hight. Mr. Harness says at one time 
some persons opened this mound, and the inside was found to 
be quite hollow, the cavity admitting a person by stooping a 
little. Around the base were found buried a great number of 
human skeletons of quite a small size. A number of them were 
dug out. Under the head of each skeleton were found the 
fibers of seemingly very fine cloth, the threads appearing very 
plainly. Near this mound is a curiously shaped earthwork 
thrown up, containing some ten acres within the walls, with a 
long lane or outlet leading out for some distance from the main 
work. 

Mr. John Davis, whose name appears in another place in 
this work, says Mr. Harness, in early times, started to Chilli- 
cothe on horseback to buy some salt, just after he had settled 
where he now lives, taking with him the last dollar he had, 
which would pay at that time for a half bushel. On the way 
he met a party who proposed a horse race for one dollar a side. 
Mr. Davis put up his dollar and won the race, and with his two 
dollars he bought a bushel instead of a half bushel of salt. 

By Simpson Jones. 

Among the very first settlements made in Eoss county was 
that of the Highbank Prairie, now included in this town- 



86 Pioneer Record of Ross County j Ohio. 

ship. A8 early as 1798 corn was raised b}'- different parties 
on that prairie. The crop spoken of by J. B. Finley, as hav- 
ing been raised by James Kilgore on the Station Prairie, 
was beyond doubt raised on the Highbank Prairie. As Kilgore 
settled and put up his cabin about where Horace Crookham 
now lives, and was living there in 1798, it is hardly likely he 
would cross the river and go up two miles to raise corn, when 
there was as good or better land within a few hundred yai'ds of 
his cabin. Mr. Kilgore afterward bought the upper tract of 
the Highbank Prairie, and divided it with a Mr. Holton, on 
which tracts of land, now owned by Thomas Orr and Milton 
Jones, both of them ended their days. We have no informa- 
tion that Mr. Kilgore attempted to raise any crop previous 
to 1798, in which year he did raise corn on the Highbank 
Prairie; so that we conclude the first corn was raised by the 
whites on that prairie instead of the Station. Among the 
earlier settlers who came out to make a crop preparatory to a 
settlement, were Thomas and Zebulon Orr, who raised corn on 
the Highbank in 1798 or 1799; also, Robert Corhen, Ben- 
jamin Kerns, Amos Taylor, and others — indeed, this was the 
center of the settlement, and the bank east of this rich and 
fertile prairie soon became lined with cabins, and so continued 
up to the time of the land sale. As the Government sold no 
smaller tracts than a section, it was the purpose of most of these 
early settlers to club together and buy homes on this prairie. 
But on the day of sale, when these lands were sold, the crier, 
instead of naming them the Highbank lands, offered them as 
the lands lying at the mouth of Indian creek, and they were 
bought by Benjamin Kerns, Felix Eennick, and Joseph Har- 
ness, except the upper fractional section, which was bought by 
James Kilgore and Holton. This made a scattering of the 
pioneers then settled along the bank, most of whom fell back 
upon the flats or second bottoms and uplands — some even seek- 
ing the hills on account of health and game. I have had it, 
says my informant, from more than one of these old settlers, that 



Liberty Township, 87 

it was their settled conviction that there was bribery used in the 
selling of the Highbank lands, but just who was accused I 
never learned. * 

Eich and productive as these lands were, there was a terri- 
ble drawback to their attraction in the shape of chills and 
fevers. So prevalent was this disease that not a cabin or a fam- 
ily escaped for a single year; and it often happened that of a 
large family there would not be a single well member to fur- 
nish drink to the others. In such cases buckets would be filled 
in the morning by those most able and placed in some accessi- 
ble place, so when the shakes came on each could help himself 
or herself Had there been any seeming possible way of get- 
ing back to the old settlements, from which these adventurers 
had come, most, if not all, would have left the rich Scioto bot- 
toms, with their shakes and fevers; but so it was, there were no 
railroads or canals, or even wagon roads, on which they could 
convey their disheartened skeletons back to their old home- 
steads, with their pure springs and health-restoring associa- 
tions. At the time of the year when a tedious land or water 
trip could be made, there were enough of each family sick to 
prevent any preparatory arrangements for such a return ; while 
in winter there were even more obstacles in the way than the 
sickness of summer. Thus held not only by the charms of the 
scenery, and the productiveness of the soil, but by the sterner 
realities of shakes and burning fevers, few that came ever re- 
turned, but every year brought new neighbors. 

« Who the party guilty of the bribery of the crier was, seemed to be 
indicated by several circumstances that followed soon after the sale. The 
first wheat raised on the Highbank was by Mr. Kerns, who was permitted 
to get it harvested and stacked, soon after which it was fired in the night 
and burned up. Among the first patches cleared in the upland by Mr. 
Kerns was for an orchard. Before fully completing the clearing, and while 
the log-heaps were on fire, Mr. Kerns had his apple-trees planted. These 
trees were obtained at a considerable cost, as there were no nurseries yet in 
this country. A night or two after the trees were all set out, and before the 
remains of the log-heaps were gone out, some person or persons went and 
pulled up every tree in the orchard, and laid the roots in the fire I — Jos. 
Smith. 



88 Pioneer Record of Ross County , Ohio. 

But to retui'n to the land sale. There was a general fee-l- 
ing of indignation toward the fortunate possessors of the High- 
bank lands, and parties who had expected to procure homes 
there hastened to make sure of the next best lands within reach. 
The Orrs removed to Dry run, in an adjoining township ; Eob- 
ert Corhen and Benjamin Hanson located on Walnut creek, 
near Mooresville; Amos Taylor, Thonias Jones, McClintick, 
and othei'S located on Walnut creek, where they lived till the 
close of life. On getting possession of the corn land on the 
Highbank, one of the purchasers claimed rent from those who 
had raised crops, and all paid except Thomas Orr. Orr refused 
to pay rent lor Congress land, and was sued by Benjamin Kerns, 
who failed to recover. 

Very soon after the sale of the Highbank lands, all the 
bettor portions of the township were entered, chiefly by specu- 
lators and parties clubbing together. Few persons had the 
means to enter a whole section, or even a half section. All the 
land in the township, except the Highbank, was covered with a 
heavy growth of timber, such as white and black oak, hickory, 
sugar, poplar, beech, and walnut. To cultivate this land it was 
necessary first to clear it, which was a laborious job. Much 
of this timber, especially on Walnut creek, consisted of the 
finest yellow poplar, tall and straight, and many of them four 
and six feet in diameter. To get these trees out of the way re- 
quired much labor, as there were no saw mills, stationary or 
portable, then, to work up those remarkable trees, but thou- 
sands of them were deadened and suffered to stand and dry a 
few years, then cut down and burned by using the smaller 
limbs and other timber as "niggers." To clear a farm thickly 
set with timber was a work of years, and was accomplished 
only by persevering industry. 

The beauty of these forests as they then stood, interspersed 
with all the varieties of timber common to this country, can 
only be imagined; and there is not a single nook or corner in 
the bounds of this township that has not been despoiled, not so 
much by the " scythe of time," as by the " ax of progress." It 



Liberty Township. 89 



scarcely seems possible that so great a change could be wrought 
in all our forests in seventy years as has already been. And 
it seems scarcely credible that in the settlement of a whole 
township, not one land owner could have had forethought 
enough to have saved a ten-acre lot of timber in its natural 
glorious state, with its magnificent poplars, walnuts, oaks, 
sugars, grapevines, pawpaws, spice-wood, etc. Such a ten-acre 
lot, as it once stood seventy years ago, would to-day be a greater 
curiosity, and attract more attention, than the best thousand 
acre farm in Eoss county. I know, says my informant, broken 
lands, that were covered with forests of sugar and poplar, in- 
terspersed with other varieties, which if they now stood as they 
stood even fifty years ago would bring one hundred dollars per 
acre, now not worth ten dollars per acre. Such has been some 
of our improvements on nature and her adornments. 

The great pervading element our pioneers brought with 
them was destructiveness to trees, vines, flowers, and shrubs ; 
to wild beasts, from the fat bear to the little ground squirrel ; 
and from the wild turkey to the humming bird, the same hand 
of extermination was extended. 

Speaking of those grand old poplars, saj^s my informant, 
reminds me of one I but recently manufactured into plank, 
turning out over eleven thousand feet of weather-boarding, be- 
sides some seven hundred feet of inch plank. To get this tree 
to the mill it was cut into eighteen logs, the four main body 
logs being split into quarters. 

Next to the forests, the great attraction was the game of 
this region — the bear, deer, and wild turkeys. It frequently 
happened that great fat bears would be treed close to the cabin, 
and as for deer any one acquainted with the paths and divides 
could very soon find a white tail. Thomas Jones, my grand- 
father, raised a pet bear from a cub, taken Avhen quite small, 
which was, in his manners, decidedly an oddity. When grown 
he was kept chained in the yard to a stake, around which he 
had his circle and play-ground. There was one spot in that 
circle that he never passed without putting his nose to the 



po Pioneer Record of Ross Couniy, Ohio. 

ground and turning a somersault. No whipping or fighting 
him could so confuse him as to cause him to pass that sacred 
spot without this singular exhibition. After he had fairly ma- 
tured he was killed for his meat, and to get rid of the trouble 
of taking care of him. They also raised a pet deer which was, 
in her way, also a curiosity. She would go out in the woods 
and make friends with the wild deer, and then start for home 
in company with her gentleman deer, who generally forfeited 
his life b}^ his attentions, for no sooner was the pet belled-deer 
in sight than the gun and dogs were turned on the wild deer, 
when the tame deer would join the dogs in the chase, and rarely 
fail in capturing the deceived animal. At last the trusty deer 
was shot by mistake for a wild deer, having gone out without 
her bell. 

Persons who once became accustomed to the use of bear 
meat often preferred it to any other meat. How much of this 
preference was founded in imagination was illustrated by an 
anecdote I will relate, wherein a certain Joshua Baltinger and 
John Eogcrs figured as regular bear hunters, as well as bear 
eaters. It happened on a time when the old pioneers were on 
a trading expedition to the Jackson salt works, that they put 
up for the night with Thomas Jones, who had but recently ar- 
rived, and erected his cabin, but had not formed a taste for eat- 
ing bear. A day or two before the arrival of his old acquaint- 
ances he had gone into the woods and killed a large black sow, 
and skinned and cut her up in the same manner as though she 
was a bear, taking care to leave her feet in the woods. Being 
fat the carcass had all the appearance of one, so much so that 
my grandfather said to the person who helped him to kill and 
dress the sow, "We will call her a bear." So the word went 
round that Tommy Jones had killed a fine fat bear. Such of 
the neighbors as liked bear meat must have a fry, while those 
who could n't go bear meat could not be prevailed on to touch 
the "critter." Among those was Tommy Jones himself As 
the two travelers were unsaddling, they espied the black skin 
hanging across a pole, and at once inquired what skin that was. 



Liberty 'Township. 



"A beai*," answered Tommy, quickly. "Killed a bear, Tom- 
my?" "O, yes; a fine fat one, too." Turning to Eogers, Balt- 
inger says: "I told thee we 'd get some bear meat before we got 
back, and now here it is." No excuse could prevent some bear 
meat from being fried for supper that night. Forthwith the 
skillet began to "siz and friz," and the peculiar flavor of the 
bear to fill the cabin, greatly to the delight of the old hunters. 
"Now," says Baltinger, "can 't thee smell the difference. Tom- 
my, between that bear meat and pork?" No pork, or any 
other meat, smelt like that bear meat. Thus the conversation 
went on while the meat was cooking, till brought on the table, 
when one of the old bear eaters, taking some meat and gravy 
on his plate, says : "1 tell thee. Tommy, where the difference 
is between this meat and gravy and pork; thee may eat all the 
bear gravy thee pleases, and it won't rise on the stomach like 
hog meat gravy." To this Tommy only remarked that "the 
paws of the bear were enough for him, he wanted nothing to 
do with the gravy." Thus feasted on bear meat from the old 
black sow, the old bear hunters went on their way rejoicing, 
taking good care to call again on their return trip to get an- 
other fill of bear meat, nor were they informed of the joke for 
some months afterward. 

At that time hogs would generally be fat in the woods. 
Scarcely a year but there were either acorns or beech-nuts, and 
always roots in abundance. Of wild turkeys there was a great 
abundance. When a boy, says my informant, I shot a wild hen 
turkey that weighed nineteen pounds, a weight I never have 
known a tame hen turkey to reach. From what I have seen of 
the wild and tame turkey, I am satisfied there has been no im- 
provement made by domestication. On the contrary, I am sat- 
isfied there has been a perceptible deterioration in the turkey 
family since their domestication. The reasons for this I have 
nowhere seen accounted for. 



92 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

Old Settlers. 

Thomas Jones, ray grandfather, emigrated from New Jer- 
sey in 1804, and settled on Walnut oreek, where he opened a 
small farm, and raised nine sons and two daughters, all of whom 
lived to grow up, and all married and settled in the same neigh- 
borhood. For years he could take his nine sons into the har- 
vest field, and himself leading with the hand sickle make 
ten hands. Each of his eleven children became the head of a 
numerous household. The old homestead is still retained, and 
is in the possession of the youngest child. The Abi-aham Clay- 
pool and Amos Taylor farms remain in the possession of the 
children. With these exceptions all the other lands in the 
township have passed from the original purchasers into new 
hands. 



Jefferson 'Township. 93 



Jefferson Township. 



By J. W. Vanmeter, 

This township is in the southeast part of the county. Salt 
creek passes through it, near the center, in a southwest direc- 
tion. Richmond is the only town in the township, situated on 
the west bank of Salt creek and on the road leading from Chii- 
licothe to Jackson. The town contains about three hundred 
inhabitants, with five stores, two groceries, two hotels, two tan- 
yards, two blacksmith shops, three wagon shops, and two shoe- 
maker shops— all doing a good business ; one fine Methodist 
Episcopal Church, one large school house, with a school of from 
one to two hundred pupils, one gunsmith shop, two physicians, 
one surveyor, and one harness-maker. 

At the east end of the town is a fine flouring and saw mill 
and a woolen factory. The advantages of water power here are 
perhaps as good as any in the county. At the crossing of the 
creek there is a fine bridge. 

Bast of the creek the land is hilly, where a chance deer 
may be seen ; west of the creek the land is good. The town- 
ship was settled originally by Quakers from North Carolina. 
The town was laid out in 1811 by the Moffitts. The Coxes and 
Hinsons settled at this place in 1798. Soon after the settle- 
ment, other settlers came— the Meekers, Strattons, Minears, 
and many more Connecticut Yankees; also, the Rittcnours, on 
whose land is a stone barn, where the Rev. Mr. Cartwright 
preached in 1805. Anthony Rittenour emigrated to Ohio, from 
Maryland, at an early day, and has long since passed away, and 
bis son Jacob is the only one of the name left, who is now about 
eighty-six years of age. Mr. Rittenour served his country in 



94 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

the war of 1812; he is the oldest man living in the township. 
Benjamin Short, aged eighty-four years, also served in the war 
of 1812 — these two being the only old soldiers of that war now 
living in the township. None of the Moffitts, or their descend- 
ants, now live in the township, they having long since moved 
to Chillicothe, Illinois. Henry Hinson, an early settler, died 
some years since, aged eighty ; his son, John Hinson, is the old- 
est man now living who was born in the township ; he is aged 
sixty-five years. Eli Stratton, one of the first settlers, died in 
1867, aged eighty-nine years, having lived in the same house 
fifty-three years ; he moved to town about a year previous to 
his death. He was the father of S. D. Sti-atton, late recorder of 
Ross county. Out of all the persons living here forty years 
ago but five remain in the town and five in the township, all 
the others having died or moved away. 

In this township are many old relics of the past, such as 
Indian graves, where charcoal, parched corn, fish bones, deer 
and dog bones, and whole human skeletons are found in the 
same mound, with plenty of broken earthenware, arrows, and 
pipes; and near the town at least a peck of large leaden balls 
have been picked up, and pieces of gun-barrels are also found, 
showing — as some suppose — the severe fighting old De Soto had, 
when on his way to Canada, with the aborigines. The old In- 
dian trail, from Kanawha to Chillicothe, passes here, going by 
way of the salt works at Poplar Row, now called Jackson. Mr. 
Rittenour says he has seen at least one hundred squaws, with 
their pappooses fastened to boards, resting or camping half a 
mile from town. 

This township was at one time famous for hunting, game 
of all kinds being in abundance, and occasionally, to this day, a 
deer runs through the town; and the season is counted poor if 
we do not kill at least a dozen rattlesnakes in the township. 

Mr. John Griffis, an old settler, who carries on the tannery 
which was erected in 1825, is now seventy -one or seventy-two 
years of age. He has been a resident of this place fifty years. 



Jefferson 1'ownship. 9^ 

Besides other things, we claim to have the tallest man in the 
county, Mr. J. A. Stancliff, whose hight is six feet seven and a 
half inches. In the first settlement of this township, we had 
the social evil in the shape of still-houses. We had three in 
town, and nine within a mile of the place. My informant saj^s 
he has seen nine fights in half an hour, where the blows fell 
fast and furious; when all was over the parties would scramble 
up with mashed noses and black eyes, repair to the first dog- 
gery, and drink friends until the next meeting. With all this 
we have had but one person sent from this township to the pen- 
itentiary, and none hung as yet. 

In this township, between the years of 1821 and 1847, there 
were twelve deaths by drowning, to-wit: Captain Levi Hicks, 
two names unknown, Loi-enzo Moffitt, a Mr. Dawson, John 
Hagans, a Mr. Martin, Peter Burr, two children of J. Tomlin- 
son, Anson Graves, and Daniel Bailey. 



Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 



Deerfie/d Township, 



Deerfield township is noted for its large and extended 
plains, and rich and fertile bottoms on the Scioto and Deer creek, 
the ancient park for the elk and deer. Clarksburg, in this 
township, derives its name from Colonel William Clark, a vet- 
eran of the war of 1812, who resided on Hays creek. 

Township Officers. 

J. W. Timmons and A. S. Holloway, Justices ; James Temp- 
lin. Clerk ; E. W. Teniplin, Treasurer ; Samuel Cochran, Peter 
Baker, and J. W. Hurst, Trustees ; O. M. Hinson, Assessor ; 
James Templin, Jr., Land Appraiser. 

Early Settlers. 

Captain Clement Brown emigrated, in 1802, from Delaware. 
In 1803 he married Miss Eachel White, and permanently set- 
tled on the land which he had purchased on the rich bottoms 
of Deer creek. Mrs. Eachel Brown, his mother, came out that 
year, with the rest of her family — White, Henrietta, Kethura, 
Zaccheus, and Mary. John Wiley, who afterward married Hen- 
rietta, came out with them. Captain Brown cleared his land and 
cultivated it until 1812, when he and his company went to Fort 
Seneca, under Colonel Clark. On his return he continued the 
cultivation of his farm. He died at the age of eighty years, and 
such had been the increase in the value of land, that that which 
had cost him but little, was, at the time of his death, considered 
worth $200,000. He left a son and a daughter, Thomas W. and 
Sarah. Thomas W. Brown lives on his farm of two hundred 
acres at Mount Pleasant. He owns, beside, two thousand acres 



Deerfield 'Township. 97 



at other places. He has served his township in various capaci- 
ties, as trustee, assessor, etc. His family consists of Eichard 
N., N. W., Ambrose, Sina, Eebecca, Eichard P., Eachel, Elmore, 
and Kate W. 

White Brown erected the first mill in the township. He 
was an exemplary man, a class leader in the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church for many years, and the father of Methodism in 
Deerfield township. He died, much lamented, in 1841, aged 
ninety-one years. His family consisted of Eebecca, Lucian, 
Amelia, Elizabeth, Anna, Margaret, Nelson, Mary, William, 
Sarah, Francis, and Priscilla. 

Edward Tifiin, a relative of Governor TiflSn, emigrated to 
Deerfield in 1803, and located on the Scioto. He served in the 
war of 1812. He married a daughter of White Brown, and 
they had the following children : Mary Ann, Milton, Martha, 
Cynthia, Margaret, and Edward ; by his second wife he had 
three children — Newton, James, and Isabella. 

Eev. Lorenzo Dow preached in White Brown's barn in 
1828. Eev. Stephen Timmons, who emigrated to Deerfield in 
1802, was the first Methodist preacher on Deer creek. He 
served several terms as justice of the peace, and was an early 
advocate of anti-slavery. He raised a large and respectable 
family. Abraham Shanton emigrated in 1803, and was in the 
war of 1812. Nathan Hide was a man of some note and popu- 
larity in the county. He was representative in 1865, and held, 
at various times, important township offices. He moved to 
Illinois. Colonel Hegler was in the war of 1812, as was also 
George Hill, a farmer and hunter. Samuel Clark was a son of 
Colonel William Clark. William Bryant, C. P. Davis, H. Ean- 
som, P. H. Potts, and William Goldsberg were farmers ; Wil- 
liam Stagg, a noted panther hunter ; Abram Payne, a singular 
man, but good company. William Haggard, who died at the 
age of eighty-three years, and M. Bragg, a farmer, were in the 
war of 1812. Jacob Switzer, Jacob Eobinson, Daniel Counts, 
Len. Counts, Isaac Fleming, and James Miner were in Captain 
Brown's company in 1813. Levi Noble emigrated in 1800. 



9 8 Pioneer Record of Ross County ^ Ohio. 

He was a noted hunter, and was in the war of 1812. His father 
served in the Eevolutionary war. Abram Alter, Jacob Lister, 
E. Hide (who served thirty-three years as justice), and Thomas 
Hardy, were all in the war of 1812. J. H. Hervey, Ives Wagill, 
and William Kerkendall were early emigrants — about 1801. 

Colonel William Clark, a farmer and tanner, was an early 
settler in Deerfield. He commanded a regiment of militia sev- 
eral years, and was at Hull's surrender. William Lister was an 
early pioneer ; he served in the war of 1812 ; is now ninety- 
seven years of age, and voted at the last election. Joseph Tim- 
mons, son of the Eev. Stephen Timmons, the old pioneer 
preacher, is a man of ability and influence ; he is now a justice 
of the peace. John Foster came to Deerfield in 1802, and was 
the first school teacher in the township. His sons were Charles, 
John, Andrew, and James. John and James Tuttle owned 
large farms on Deer creek ; were men of influence and wealth, 
and early settlers in the township. David Jones was chaplain 
to General Wayne, in 1793-95, and Andrew Jones was one of 
his spies. Colonel Evans was in the Eevolutionary war ; came 
here in 1796. John McNeil. J. Wise; died aged one hundred 
years. Frederick Bray, Indian killer, died aged ninety-one 
years. Persal Smith. Joseph Conrad ; had at one time three 
wives ; died aged ninety-nine years. Byron and Baron Lef- 
fenwell were soldiers in the war of 1812. William Pennell was 
a fife-major under Colonel Clark. Thomas Carney and S. 
Howell were pioneers in 1801. Henry Mallow, George Smith, 
M. Stites, B. Thomas, Henry Lawrence, Eobert Taylor, and El- 
well Brown were mechanics, farmers, and tnerchants, useful 
citizens, and early emigrants. Benjamin Grimes, Curtis Wil- 
liams, James Tender, Thomas Junk, David Hagar, John Mc- 
Carthy, M. P. Junk, Amos Seropes, William Jones, Michael 
.Bush, John Bush, S. Mangold, John Farlow, David Plilly, Ed- 
ward Young, C. Stratton, Martin Peterson, John Holloway, G. 
Vincent, John Junk, Henry Colsten, J. Clemens, Aaron Beaton- 
ham, Lemuel Holloway, Thomas Carney, S. Chester, and Eufus 
Betts were all early pioneers, and nearly all in the war of 1812. 



Deerfield 'Township. 99 

James Templin, Sen., emigrated from Kentucky to this 
township in 1795. His family consisted of Solomon, Eobert, 
Jeremiah, Isaac, Margaret, and John. He landed at Ports- 
mouth, and came up the Scioto to the station. He bought his 
land from General Massie. OliTown was then the headquarters 
of the Indians. He and his brother John were in Colonel 
Clark's regiment in the war of 1812, and helped build Fort 
Meigs. At the close of the war he resumed the cultivation of 
his farm. He was twice married, and had fourteen children. 
He is now eighty-one years of age and rather feeble. His 
children are scattered, most of them being in the West. 

The following pioneer names were handed in by Captain 
Hoddy : Lieutenant John Jackson ; James Huffman ; Noah 
Downs, fifer in Captain Brown's company ; James Baker, drum- 
mer; Eev. P. Baker, first Baptist preacher and father of Peter 
Baker; Edward and Thomas Noland, Stephen Emory, and 
Uriah Betts. The above were all farmers, and were in Colonel 
Clark's regiment. 

Colonel William Clark's staff, in 1812, were : Eobert Hod- 
dy, Adjutant ; Benjamin Grimes, Chaplain ; James Miner, Pay- 
master; William Clawson, Quartermaster; John Clark, Ser- 
geant-major; M. E. Peterson, Lieutenant-colonel; and Major 
Calloway. 



lOO Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 



Colerain Township, 



Township Officers. 

Washington Jennings, Andrew Hinton, and Samuel Haris- 
inger, Justices of the Peace; Jacob Boustoer, S. Pontious, and 
Andrew Hinton, Trustees; John May, Clerk; A. Kose, Treasurer; 
J. Throgmorton, Assessor; Andrew "Wiggins and A. G. Betzer, 
Constables ; David Jones, Land Appraiser. 

Colei-ain township, in early days, was a noted place for 
game of every kind. Walnut and Salt creeks were headquarters 
for all the hunters in the neighborhood ; their high and craggy 
banks were the biding places of bears, panthers, and wolves. 
The township is watered by the head waters of Walnut, Salt, 
and Kinikinick creeks. The face of the country is part rolling 
and part level; the soil is rich, and every acre can be tilled. 

Adelpha is the principal town in the township, and is 
one of the oldest towns in the State. It has several stores, 
churches, etc. 

Old Settlers. 

Hon. Daniel Kershner was the first pioneer settler in this 
township, having come in 1796. He had quite a large farm, and 
was a man of some prominence. He served as captain in the 
war of 1812, and represented the county in the legislature in 
1836. He died in 1844, at the age of eighty-four years. He 
had three sons — Daniel, John, and Elisha. Daniel, Jr., married 
and settled at the head waters of Walnut creek. He was 
captain of the militia, served two terms as county commissioner, 
and held several township offices. He is now seventy-two years 
of age, in good health, and much respected. John, the second 
eon, is owner of the old stone fort and a farm on Salt creek. 



Colerain Township. loi 

He mari'ied a daughter of the late Colonel Spangler ; has held 
several township trusts. There are several mounds and one old 
fort circle on his farm. Elisha, the third son, lives near John; 
a good farmer and excellent neighbor. John Kershner, Jr., is 
a bachelor, a great land speculator and stock dealer. The 
Kershners are all great land owners, men of wealth and 
influence. 

Hon. Elias Henton was one of the earliest pioneers. Prior 
to leaving Virginia he had been elected judge. He was a noted 
hunter as early as 1796. The last panthers and bears he killed 
were in 1805, on the waters of Walnut creek. He held the office 
of justice for twenty-one years, and has served his township in 
other capacities. He is still living, much respected by his 
numerous friends and relatives. Aaron Jones has taken a great 
interest in improvements; is a man of sterling principles and 
sound sense. He was justice of the peace many years. Moses 
Jones was an early pioneer; entered his land in the forest, and 
made it a fine farm; held several civil and military offices, 
and was a man of character and highly respected. Martin 
Dresback was a pioneer of 1798. He was a soldier in General 
Harmar's campaign of 1791 and a noted hunter. He died at 
the age of ninety-six yeai*s. John Bookwalter was an early 
settler in Salt creek valley ; a good hunter. He served as spy 
from 1783 to 1795, in the campaigns against the Indians. He 
died at the age of ninety-five years, and his wife, Barbara, at the 
age of ninety-eight. Joseph, Aaron, and William Bookwalter 
were among the early pioneers, who cleared their farms in the 
forest wilderness and braved all the dangers of frontier life. 
They were men of worth and enterprise. William is still living 
on his farm, a useful citizen. John May was a pioneer of 1799. 
He was a great hunter, and served in the wars of 1791 and 1812. 
Frederick Pontious was an early settler ; a good man, who had 
much influence in society. He served several terms as justice. 
Washington Jennings was an early emigrant, a good farmer, 
and quite popular. He was a justice for many years. Joseph 
Poland, Henry Strauser, Isaac Harper, Isaac Larich, George 



I02 Pioneer Record of Ross County y Ohio. 

Flanagan, Jacob Boucher, and Conrad Eudy were all early pio- 
neers, and came at the same time. Captain John Patterson was 
one of the first settlers of Colerain, a brave, energetic man. His 
father was a major in the Eevolution. He served as a captain in 
the war of 1812, and was several terms justice of the peace. He 
died eighty years of age. Major Engle, a brave and kind man, 
and a good farmer, earned his title in the war of 1812. John 
Dunn was a farmer and justice; a noted man. Saml. Harisinger 
emigrated at an early day; a farmer; has served several years 
as justice and postmaster at Adelpha. David Kershner built 
the first distillery in the township. John Beach was the first 
innkeeper, and Alexander Smith the first shoemaker. Peter 
Marshall established the first boot and shoe store in the town- 
ship. John Stelinger was the first carpenter, Martin Nungester 
the next; Barton O'Neil, the first blacksmith and carpenter. 
Flanagan Merriman, an early settler in Colerain, is yet living, 
at the age of eighty-one years. Nathaniel Throgmorton, an 
eai'ly pioneer, has a large farm ; a man of sound sense, in whose 
opinion his neighbors place great confidence. He is one of our 
best citizens, and has raised a large and respectable family. 
Peter Goodman, a great stock dealer, David Holderman, Conrad 
Betzer, John Brown, Peter Strauser, Anthony Betzner, and John 
Strawner were all early pioneers. Samuel Dresback, an early 
settler, a man of influence, and full of enterprise, has held 
several township oflSces, and is much esteemed. John Alena- 
ther, Henry Hickel, T. W. Hickel, Frederick Haynes, Andrew 
Haynes ; George Gower, an English soldier under Dunmore, from 
whom Fort Gower took its name; Moses Dawson, David Dawson, 
Thomas Arnstow, William Hoover, J. D. Smith, D. Jones, Ja- 
cob Strouse, Thomas Nutter, Thomas Patton, Jacob Alexander 
Jacob Grawutt, N. Justin, Peter White, Peter Nicol, and Noah 
Clark were all early pioneers — all dead but three, and their 
descendants scattered over the West. David C. Bolous, the 
hermit, was an Indian killer and bear hunter. He came to the 
Hocking caves, from the Kanawha region, in Virginia, in 1789. 
He was never married, having been disappointed. Here he lived 



Colerain T^ownship. 103 



alone in the dense forest, and hunted game, which was in 
abundance. He would take the skins, furs, and venison to the 
Ohio, and sell to the traders. In 1791 he shifted his quarters 
to near Fort Harmar, and from there went, as a spy, to the 
Maumee, with General St. Clair, and was taken prisoner by the 
Indians, and lived with them until Wayne's treaty in 1795. He 
came to old Daniel Kershner's in 1797, and stayed there till the 
fall of 1799, when he went to the old earth fort on Salt creek, 
and built a cabin there, in which he lived till the time of his 
death in 1802. He had killed, in his time, ninety-six bears, 
seventy-three wolves, and forty-three panthers. 

Ancient Mounds, etc. 

On John Kershner, Jr.'s, farm is a model mound, thirty-five 
feet high; and on the west bank of Salt creek, an earth fort, in 
the shape of a half- moon; one large gateway, and a circular 
earthwork, extending from the half- moon to the ancient earth 
fort. 



I04 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 



Union Township, 

In Union township the face of the country is rather un- 
even. The bottom lands on the Scioto and Paint and Deer 
creeks are rich, and produce corn and grain of the best 
quality. Deer creek divides the township into North and 
South Union. The streams running through South Union are 
Eobinson's run, Anderson-'s run, Acton's run, Menary run, and 
Musselman's run, all emptying into Paint creek. The follow- 
ing streams empty into Deer creek: Yellow run. Dry run, and 
Hay run. 

Early Settlers. By John Robinson, President of the Ross County 
Pioneer Association. 
His father, Joshua Eobinson, emigrated to the Scioto Yalley 
in 1795, in company with Greneral Nathaniel Massie and his 
surveyors. On arriving at the. station near where Chillicothe 
now is, they proceeded up the main Paint creek. Following 
the Indian trail at Keeves' Crossings, they came suddenly upon 
a party of Indians encamped. A battle ensued, which soon 
ended in favor of the whites. The Indians retreated through 
the woods, carrying off everything but their guns. Joshua 
Eobinson was shot through the body and died immediately. 
The body was interred near the mouth of Eocky fork, at the 
head of the rapids. A white man, who had been prisoner with 
the Indians, made his escape during the fight. The party re- 
treated to the Three Islands. William Eobinson, bi-other of Joshua, 
was also in this fight. He bought six hundred and forty acres 
from Greneral Massie in South Union, four miles south of Chilli- 
cothe. He moved to his purchase in 1800, and erected the first 
cabin in the vicinity, and soon cleared a fine farm. When the 
war was declared in 1812, he was one of the first to volunteer, 
although over age. He died at the age of seventy years. John 
Eobinson, on the death of his father, was adopted by bis uncle 



Union Township. 105 



William, and lived with him till he was of age. He was cor- 
poral in Captain Alexander Menary's company, of Colonel 
Clark's regiment, and marched to Sandusky. When the war 
was over, the regiment was disbanded at Chillicothe, and Mr. 
Robinson settled on the land on which he still lives, eighty- 
three years of age, in the enjoyment of good health. He had 
three sons, James, John, Jr., and Joshua — the latter dead — and 
two daughters. He furnishes us with the following names of 
early settlers: William Wilcox, William Cochran, Eichard 
Bradley, Alexander McClintock, B. Johnston, M. Yates, M. 
Dolly, M. Robertson, Alexander Robertson, and J. Clark, who 
all served in Colonel Wm. Clark's regiment in the war of 1812. 
John Acton, a man well advanced in years, came to Ross 
county in 1810, with his family, viz : Richard, John, William, 
Jeremiah, Sarah, and Benjamin, and settled in South Union. 
Richard and John were noted hunters. They died in 1810, 
aged respectively eighty-nine and eighty-eight years. William 
was in Captain Menary's company during the war of 1812. 
After it was over he settled on Colonel Evans' land. He is 
now living on his farm on the north fork of Paint creek, eighty- 
two years of age, and in good health and spirits. He furnishes 
the following names of early settlers : James Weaver, who is 
the father of ten sons, all farmers ; Jacob Shedy, James Augus- 
tus, Oliver Michael, James Anderson, James Pool, Michael Mus- 
selman, William Rogers, James Duncan, Jr.; General James 
Menary, who served in the war of 1812, and one term in the 
legislature; Richard Atherton, L. H. Atherton, Henry Ather- 
ton, and John Anderson, who was in the war of 1812. 

Names of Early Settlers, furnished by Major James Weaver. 

William Pool, Jacob Sharer, S. Organ, Oliver Nichols, 
Revs. Joseph and James Nichols, Addison Nichols, Stephen 
Ryan, Daniel Beard, George Steel, T. Anderson, Charles Binns, 
John Guster, James Steel ; Richard Barrett, blacksmith ; T. 
Arthur, first merchant and preacher ; H. Rouse, Wm. Fulton, 
Wm. Noble, and S. Day, who were all farmers. 



io6 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

Names and Records, by John N. Hurst. 

His rather, Levi Hurst, and family emigrated to Ross 
county, from Maryland, in 1801. They came in one-horse carts 
to Wheeling, where he purchased a flat-boat, in which he 
floated his etfects to Portsmouth, except the horses, which were 
sent by land. Here he hitched up his carts again, and in nine 
days reached Chillicothe, in the month of June. He moved 
into the woods the September following. Wild game was very 
plenty, and the Indians were hunting in great numbers that 
fall, so that clearing progressed very slowly. Mr. Hurst was 
the father of eight children. His sons' names were James, 
William, Harper, Samuel, Thomas, and John N. The latter 
occupies the beautiful homestead on Dry run. He has served 
his township as justice, clerk, assessor, etc. They are all 
Methodists. General Hurst, who served in the late war, and is 
nowUnited States revenue collector, is a relativeof 'SquireHurst. 
When Captain Harrod was killed by the Indians, a company 
was raised and pursued them as far as Old Town. In return- 
ing they indulged in firing at game, which so alarmed the 
settlers that they all left their cabins, and the whole thirteen 
families collected at Levi Hurst's, expecting an attack. Mrs. 
Hubbard stood during the night near the window, with an 
ax, saying that she would kill the first Indian that would 
attempt to get in. Mr. Levi Hurst built the first hewed log- 
house in the towiiship. He was born in 1770, and died in 1861. 
He and his wife had lived together seventy years. 

John Rogers, one of the pioneers, helped to build the first 
cabin in Chillicothe. He was in the valley three months prior 
to the arrival of the first white woman, and drove the first 
cattle from Kentucky to Chillicothe. His old cabin is still 
standing. Judge James Armstrong served as judge one term. 
He was a man of ability. Joseph Clark, James and Hamilton 
Rogers were early settlers. Judge Joshua Robinson died in 
1862, aged eighty-eight years. Thomas, John, and Joseph 
McCoy were the first settlers on Dry run. Thomas Earl was 



Union 'Township. 107 



an early settler and good man; served as justice several terms. 
David Augustus was in the war of 1812. Joseph Coujits, John 
Eussell, Henry Davis, and William Harvey were the first school 
teachers. Kev. Benj. Young was the first preacher. Eev. H. 
Smith organized the first Methodist Church in 1800. The first 
camp meeting was held in 1803, on Thomas Watts' farm. Eben 
Timmons, Thomas Hicks, Thomas Willis, Eobert Harvey, T. 
Tootte, N. Adams, Isaac Cook ; James Dunlap, who was a mem- 
ber of the State legislature; Colonel Evans, a man of great 
enterprise and a large land owner, who came from Kentucky ; 
Philip Miner, Jacob Mace, Joshua Clark, Joseph Counts, Asa 
Hawkins, Jacob Crispin, Levi Warner, Abram Winder, Charles 
Fryson, John Hinder, Milton Anderson, Thomas Thompson, 
Mr. Williams, David Corbit, Michael Baily, William Fulton, 
and Daniel Beard, who was in the war of 1812. 

John Dunlap, father of James and all the other Dunlaps in 
this region, emigrated to Union township in 1796, and was so 
much pleased with the Scioto Valley that he bought a large 
body of land on the west bank of the Scioto, for which he gave 
nineteen cents an acre. This land is now owned by his sons, 
and is worth one hundred dollars per acre. His wife was a 
granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. His sons were 
Eobert, Eufus, James, John, Major, and Lorenzo. 

Casper Smith came to the Scioto Valley in 179G. His 
father was a captain during the Eevolutionary war. Casper 
was in the war of 1812, and died in 1845. Henry and Thomas 
Bowdell and James Fish came in 1800. Eachel Buckworth is 
yet living, and has raised a large family. Thomas Vinsant. 
Mr. McCarfity, an early settler, was in the war of 1812. The 
latter was a kind man and good neighbor. His widow is yet 
living at Chillicothe, and still owns the old farm. John Huber, 
Sen., John Huber, Jr., and Henry Eussell, all farmers, with large 
families. John Eobinson, Thomas Littleton, Joseph Charge, 
Henry Cook, John Davis, Thomas Earl, Caleb Leland, and 
John James came in 1799 ; all farmers. 



io8 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 



Pioneer J^ames, etc., by Michael Beaver, Jr. 

Michael Beaver, Sen., emigrated to Eoss county from Vir- 
ginia in 1800. His family consisted of Michael, Joseph, Eliza, 
Susan, and Elias. He purchased a section of the military land 
on Deer creek. He served in the Revolutionary war, and his 
son Michael in the war of 1812. The wife of the latter died in 
1860, aged seventy-nine years. Peter Jackson was a justice for 
several terms, and had been in the Revolutionary war. John 
Baker, John Kirkendal, and Stephen Timmons. The latter was 
the first Methodist preacher, in 1796. William Noble still lives, 
at the age of eighty-eight years. A. Davenport. B. Rhine- 
hart's sons, John, Jacob, Henry, and Abel, are prominent and 
useful citizens. They were early settlers, having come in 1796. 
Jacob was a captain in the war of 1812, and his brothers were 
all members of his company. Abner and Benj. Kerns were 
drovers in the war of 1812. Colonel John Mace and Andrew 
Mace were sons of Jacob Mace, an early pioneer. This family 
have occupied prominent positions in civil and military affairs. 
J. S. Mace is now sheriff of Ross county. He is a man of in- 
fluence and an efficient officer. John Thompson, Jesse Grimes, 
Hezekiah Ingham, Isaac Ingham, and James Whitesides were 
in the war of 1812. George Bennett was the first blacksmith, 
and Len. Warner the first potter. William and Isaac Warner 
were carpenters. The Warner family were Quakers. Philip 
Mencil was a captain in Colonel Clark's regiment. This regi- 
ment was mustered out in 1813, on the farm of M. Beaver, on 
Deer creek. Anson Watts, who was also in that war, is still 
living, eighty-five years of age. 

Ancient Works. 

On Mrs. Steel's farm is a large earthwork, with two miles 
of wall, several large mounds, squai'es, gateways, and bastions. 
There is a circle on Mr. George Shearer's farm a mile long, 
with embankments six feet high. There is a lai-ge mound and 
circular fort on Mr. Wood's farm. 



Harrison Township. 109 



Harrison Township, 



Township Officers. 

James T. Search and Hiram Creamer, Justices ; Frederick 
"Wheeland, L. Freeman, and John Strauser, Trustees; Samuel 
Nichols, Treasurer; James Search, Assessor ; Warren Walters, 
Clerk. 

On the east side of Walnut creek, adjoining Hocking 
county, the country is mountainous, with narrow valleys be- 
tween. The prominent sugar-loaf peaks, covered with the 
evergreen spruce and cedar, were as late as 1805 famous hunt- 
ing grounds for bear, panthers, wolves, wild cats, foxes, elk, 
deer, wild turkeys, and smaller game. Black, racer, copper- 
head, rattle, and garter snakes were very abundant. Mr. Han- 
son killed a racer which was sixteen feet long. Big Foot, the 
Indian chief, called this the bad ground — the habitation of bad 
spirits. It was considered unsafe to travel through it either on 
foot or horseback unarmed. It was a noted hunting park for 
both the Indians and the white hunters. The township is 
thickly settled along the vallej's of Walnut and Sugar creeks. 
The high hills are too steep to cultivate, and the soil too poor 
to produce profitable crops. Walnut creek is twenty miles 
long, rising in Colerain and emptying into Scioto river. 

Early Settlers. 

Samuel Hanson and family, who emigrated in 17i'8 ; Louis 
Graves, George Stanhope, James and Bennett Arinesly, Joseph 
Vangrundy, George Bishop, Daniel Ream, Anthony Raj^pole, 
John Lewis, Joseph Farmer, George and John Robuck, Wil- 
liam Johnson, Andrew Thompson, William Lockard, John Ort- 
man, Stephen Ross, Thomas Hanks, James Carothers, and 
Samuel Nichols were all early pioneers of Harrison township. 



no Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

The following were in the service during the war of 1812 : 
Colonel Wm. Johnson, Captain Abi-am Moore, Major Abraham 
Lewis, Drum-Major John Ortraan, Lieutenant George Stan- 
hope, Edward Satts, Abner and Thomas Ezra, Joseph Van- 
grundy; Samuel Moore, still living, aged eighty-eight years; 
Joseph Moore, John Young, Joseph and John Hanks, Daniel 
Ulm, A. Eaple, Lawrence Eussell, and Hugh Dalahan. 

Mr. Aaron Syms informs us that the great abundance of 
game in this region drew to it daring hunters from all parts of 
the country, and especially Kentucky. Major A. McClundy, 
the companion of Boone and Kenton, visited this region in 
1778, and made his headquarters at the old earth fort. The 
second day after he arrived his dog Sago started up a mon- 
strous he-bear, and immediately attacked it. The bear seized 
the dog, and started off with him, hugging him with a tight 
grasp. The major followed, and when near enough to shoot 
without injuring the dog, fired, but only wounded the bear. 
The enraged animal now dropped the dog, and made a des- 
perate attack on McClundy, who, after a severe, close fight, 
succeeded in killing him with his knife. During a hunt of ten 
days on the waters of Walnut and Salt creeks, McClundy killed 
thirteen bears, nine wolves, six panthers, and three wild cats, 
besides other game. 



Springfield Township. 1 1 



Springfield Township. 



Township Officers. 

Joseph Smith and Aaron Elliott, Justices; Leonard Moore, 
Andrew J. Cryder, and Thomas McNeal, Trvistees; Warren 
Senff, Assessor; Joshua Seney, Treasurer; Jacob Cryder, Land 
Appraiser. 

Early Settlers — East Springfield. 

Li 1805, Thomas and John Arthurs, and Thomas MclSTeal, 
Sen., emigrated from Brooke county, Virginia, and settled in 
East Springfield. Thomas Arthurs' family consisted of two 
sons and one daughter. Samuel, the eldest son, served in the 
war of 1812 ; Thomas, the other son, was a lieutenant in Cap- 
tain Wall's company ; they are both living. Mr. McNeal's 
father came from Scotland, and was a lieutenant in the Indian 
wars after the Eevolution. All of the family moved West, 
with the exception of Thomas, his oldest son, who is still a 
resident of this township, and all are now dead ; their names 
were Nancy, William, Samuel, and Jonathan. Thomas is now 
eighty years of ago, and has served his township as trustee and 
justice several times. 

The Indian traces were plain in this region in 1805, and 
many arro-v heads and stone axes are yet picked up in the 
fields. Mr. McNeal says he has often counted as many as 
eighty Indians in a squad, passing thi'ough from Old Town to 
Salt and Eaccoon creeks to obtain lead and hunt. They gener- 
ally^ returned with their pouches full and their horses loaded. 

Many of the early pioneers were noted hunters. Garrett 
Boots, Philip Walden, Elisha Carpenter, Henry Hershaw, 



112 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

Joseph Taylor, Martin Overly, C. IsTeff, George Boots, Leslie 
Malone, Daniel Ducher, John Cummins, James Caruthers, "Wil- 
liam Pendleton, James Useley, and B. McNeal were all famous 
hunters and trappers. 

The following are the pioneers who came to this township 
before the war of 1812: 

Adam, Alexander, and Joel McClintie ; T. Jones, Samuel 
Hershaw, Benjamin Deamons. Amos Taylor, Daniel Armstrong; 
Zachariah, Isaac, and Samuel Welsh ; James and Samuel Kil- 
gore, Andrew Young, Thomas Wilkins, Caleb and William 
Odell, Joseph Harness, Felix Eenick ; James, Henrj", and 
A. Cartwright; Philip Argrebright, Jacob Shane, Geo. Pat- 
more, Thomas Orr, William Zebulan, Thomas Hanks, Zachainah 
Linton, Hugh and Michael Dalihan, Benjamin Carnes, Philip 
and Stephen Eoos, Aaron Doll, Peter Yeaker, James Kedman, 
Prancis and Eichard Malone, Leonard Neff, Edward Satts, E. 
Murphy, A. Claypool, and Benjamin Hilton. 

Colonel Sifford, a resident of West Springfield, though not 
a pioneer, was an early settler, and a man of influence and 
enterprise. He is now a representative from Eoss county, and 
has served as Uuited States marshal, county surveyor, and^ 
commissioner, and has held other important trusts. 

The first duel (so called) fought in the Scioto Valley was 
in 1793. While the pioneers were exposed to the attacks of 
Indians, a stockade fort was maintained at the old station on 
the Scioto as a place of retreat. One morning, John Vanasaw, 
a noted hunter, shortly after leaving the fort on a hunt, saw an 
Indian rise from an ambush, decked and painted in war cos- 
tume. Both raised their rifles to their shoulders at the same 
time, and fired. The Indian fell, and Yanasaw, fearing there 
might be other Indians about, returned to the fort and reported 
his duel. 

Casper Senff, grandfather of Michael Senff, emigrated from 
Germany in 1773. He was a king's hunter, and served as a 
spy in the Eevolution. Michael came to Ohio in 1803, served 
in the war of 1812, and died in 1845. His sons were Michael, 



Springfield Township. 113 

Jr., Jesse, Andrew, George, and John. Michae], Jr., owns the 
old farm, and is a great fruit grower. 

There arc two streams in East Springfield, Dry run and 
Lick run, and one sulphur spring. 

Early Settlers — West Springfield. 

Michael Cryder, Sen., served as commissary in the Eevolu- 
tionary war, and emigrated to the Scioto Yalley in 1796. He 
brought with him his wife and six sons, John, Henry, Michael, 
Emanuel, Jacob, and Daniel, all remarkable for their size and 
physical strength. They settled in what is now West Spring- 
field ; all are now dead, and few of their descendants living. 
About the same time, Henry Musselman came from Kentucky 
to the Scioto, and erected the first mill on the river, for many 
years the resort of all the neighboring settlers. He was one of 
the first justices in the valley, and owned the land where Hope- 
town stands, and gave it that name. He died at the age of 
eighty-five j^ears. Jacob Mace and John Cryder emigrated in 
1788; were relations of Michael Cryder; some of their descend- 
ants are still living. Jacob Weider came from Pennsylvania in 
1799, and settled near Hopetown, where he lived and died, aged 
eighty-eight years. His family are all dead or gone West, 
except Mrs. Julia Downs, who still lives in the township. Mr. 
Weider was proprietor of a tavern and distillery at Barley 
Forks, now Hopetown. Frederick Overly came to the Scioto 
Yalley in 1797, and his son John still lives on the old farm. 
Barton Overly came at the same time. Zacbariah Jones came 
to Scioto in 1798, and is still living, in the one hundredth year 
of his age. Alexander, Samuel, and Daniel McEoberts, Archi- 
bald McFarland, George Wheeland, and Philip Hines emigrated 
in 1800. Zachariah Jones, Samuel McEoberts, David Cryder, 
and Jacob and Isaac Imnell served in the war of 1812. 

Ancient Works. 

In Springfield township are many old forts, mounds, and 
circles. One fort, containing some twenty acres, has walls ten 



114 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Omo. 

feet high, with gateways on three sides. The north side is 
inclosed by a circular embankment not quite so high. The 
gateway on the south side has two embankments, forty feet 
apart, reaching down to the river. At a number of places in 
the inclosure, holes in the earth seem to indicate where wells 
had been dug. Many axes, arrow heads, animal teeth, etc., have 
been found here. 

The celebrated Mount Logan is in this township, overlook- 
ing the Scioto river and Chillicothe. It was named after the 
celebrated Mingo chief, Logan, and is a great resort for celebra- 
tions, picnics, etc. The view from it is one of the finest in 
the valley. 



Green Township. 1 1 5 



Green Township, 



Before Pickaway county was organized, G-reen township 
took in all the Indian towns on Sippo and Congo creeks. Major 
John Boggs' land was all in Eoss county until Pickaway was 
organized. He was an early pioneer to the valley, having emi- 
grated from Pennsylvania in 1796. His father, Captain John 
Boggs, served during the Eevolution, and at the close of the 
war he moved and settled at the mouth of Boggs run, opposite 
Boggs Island, below Wheeling, on the Ohio river. He raised 
his family here until 1798, when he sold his land and descended 
the Ohio to Portsmouth. He then ascended the Scioto in a 
keel-boat to the station near Chillicothe. From there he trav- 
eled on foot to look after land. After traversing the valleys of 
the Scioto, he selected his land at the foot of the Pickaway 
plains, now known as the Crouse and Eenick farms, and 
erected his cabin near the elm tree, noted as the spot where 
Logan delivered his celebrated speech in 177-1-. John Boggs, 
Jr., went back to Wheeling and married, and returned to his 
new home, where he cleared the land given him by his father. 
In 1803 he shipped the first flat-boat of flour to New Orleans. 
When the war broke out in 1812 he went as captain, but was 
soon promoted and served during the war as major. He lost 
his first wife, and married, for his second, the widow of Captain 
James Taylor, of Zanesville, Ohio, and died soon after his 
return to his old home. He was the last of the first pioneers 
on the i^lains, and was the lather of nine children — William, 
Martha, Lemuel, John, Nancy, Moses, Lydia, James, and Sid- 
ne}'. James is the present owner of the farm, and has 
ei'ected a circular board fence around the Logan tree. The 



1 1 6 Pioneer Record of Ross County y Ohio. 



farm is dotted with ancient mounds. One, on the north bank 
of Congo creek, measures one thousand feet around and is 
thirty feet high. On the land entered by Captain Boggs, in 
1796, were the Indian towns called Squaw Town, Cornstalk 
Town, and Black Mount, all on Sippo creek./ 

James Boggs, son of Major Boggs, was killed by the 
Indians while on a hunting excursion with several young men 
on the Stillwater. William Boggs, brother to the Major, was 
taken prisoner by the Indians in 1793, and kept as such until 
Wayne's treaty with them at Fort Greenville in 1795, when he 
was released and sent home. On his arrival there he was 
dressed in Indian costume, and his father did not know him at 
first sight. Ho left, but returned next day and made himself 
known, and, like the Prodigal Son, was kindly received by his 
father, who exclaimed, " This, my son, who was lost, now is 
found ; was dead, but now is alive." 

John Boggs was an Indian spy, and well known by them ; 
they often waylaid him in order to get his scalp, and disliked 
him because he was a brave, fearless scout and forest ranger. 
They often made William run the gauntlet, and on one occasion 
he had to run seventy five yards and jump into a hut, in the 
door of which they had placed a large squaw to keep him out; 
but he, knowing what he had to do, started, and was pushed 
very hard, the squaw standing in the door. He struck her 
with his head, and knocked her clear across the cabin and 
almost killed her, the Indians laughing themselves almost to 
death at her expense and calling him a brave man. 

The following names of early pioneers were handed in by 
Rebecca Wolf, daughter of Captain Wolf, who was eleven 3'ear8 
old when her father settled on Congo creek in 1796 : James 
Burns was in Hull's surrender. Mark Clark, John Shark, 
David and Samuel Demery, George Fry, Thomas Single, and 
William and Matthew Ferguson were all farmers, and served 
in the war of 1812. John Crouse built the first mill on Kini- 
kinick creek, and was a man of enterprise and a useful citizen. 
John Ciernson, the first postmaster, died aged ninety years. 



Green Township. 1 1 7 



Dr. Edward Ostrander was the first physician. Hugh Little 
was in the Revolution in 1776. John Lieberj^, Daniel God man, 
J. Entricher, John Saxe, Thomas McGrody, William Dresback, 
John Eyestone, Benjamin Mark, J. Hedge, Elias Moore, Benja- 
min Steel, Samuel Evans, Dr. Shannon, W. S. French, J. Pep- 
per, O. Justice, Abram Jones, John Gray, George Smith, M. 
Morgan, M. Price, Samuel Porkins, William McCoy, James 
Rogers, J. Bardies, were all early pioneers. M. Ferguson was 
the first distiller, and Henr}" Neil the first merchant. Hugh 
Forseman, James Torbett, William Beston, John and Joseph 
Creston, Samuel Knox, David Hare, John and James McMur- 
phy, William Snodgrass, J. Young, Jacob and John Sailor, Caleb, 
James H., and J. Bush, George, James, and M. Ricko, George 
Fr3^b:irk, Thomas Duncan, John McDonald (Indian trader), 
Isaac, Richard, and James Morris, Henry Hueston, Thomas 
Emerson, Thomas Barr, David Thomas, Abram Claypole, Isaac 
Brink, Jacob Leeding, E. Reed, D. Stark, John Snider, B. 
Midshere, L. Steely, James Burns, Eli Maschell, John Grimes, 
A. Jones, and Thomas Lingeral were in the war of 1812. H. 
May, A. Pontious, JST. Wilson ; M. Slipes, the first mail car- 
rier ; William Hamilton; C. Dennison, the first tavern keeper; 
Samuel Hill, John Dresback, M. Gruger, M. Godrich, Jacob 
AVagner, John Young, Henrj^ Bell. The above-named first 
pioneers were brave and hardy men, a majorit}" of whom were 
farmers. But few are now living. Perhaps Rebecca is the last 
of the pioneers of 1796. 

Captain George Wolf emigrated with his father's family to 
the Pickaway plains in 1796. Captain Philip Wolf was an 
Indian spy daring the Revolutionary war. After arriving at 
the plains they entered their land on Congo creek, on the tract 
on which Colonel Lewis camped in 1774. George Wolf went 
out as captain of a mounted rifle company, and marched to 
Upper Sandusky. After the close of the war he returned home 
and cultivated his farm till 1859, when he died. His second 
wife is still living. Captain Philip Wolf was the father of nine 
children— Mary, George, John, Elizabeth, Joseph, Rebecca, 



1 1 8 Pioneer Record of Ross County , Ohio. 

Catherine, James, and John. Eebeeca Wolf is the only one of 
the family now livina;. She lives on the old farm, and never 
was married. Franklin Wolf, son of George, is living on the 
part of the old farm where Colonel Lewis camped. Captain 
Wolf's children by his first wife were Mahala, born in 1804; 
Elitha, born in 1808; John, born in 1810; George, born in 
1812; Harrison, born in 1813; Emerson, born in 1815; Frank- 
lin, by his second wife, in 1835. Mrs. Captain George Wolf is 
now living in Kingston; she is seventy-three years old, but 
enjo^-s good health and good company. 

On the farm of the late Captain Philip Wolf, near the 
waters of Congo creek, is the place where the Indians got their' 
lead. The mine has not been found, but large pieces of lead- 
have been picked up. In I860 Henrj- Wrench found a piece 
weighing over a pound, nine-tenths of which were pure lead. 
Tlie mine is supposed to be within the limits of Colonel Lewis' 
encampment on the waters of the Congo, which flows through 
a fertile valley and empties into the Scioto. In this valley is 
supposed to exist one of the richest veins of lead in the State. 
A celebrated chief among the Delawares proposed to discover 
the mine to Philip Wolf for a given sum, but he declined the 
offer. Along Congo creek was the Indian trail. Starting at 
Old Town, it went in a southeast direction to Grandier Squaw 
Town. It left Black Mount and Cornstalk Town to the north. 
Both these towns were situated at the foot of the plains. The 
Indian trail, after passing through Camp Lewis, went on to 
Mount Logan, and from there to Fort Gower on the Ohio. 

On the land of William Snodgrass was the Indian grave- 
yard. It is a mound one hundred and fifty feet in circumfer- 
ence and fifteen feet high. It was dug into by John Young in 
1830, and skeletons exhumed. The mound is half a mile south 
of Colonel Lewis' camp, and close by the ancient Indian trail 
leading from Old Town to Fort Gower. 

Captain Slover was taken prisoner at Crawford's defeat, 
and was condemned to be burned at the stake ; but through a 
kind Providence, he was released and made his escape. He 



Green Township. 119 



was confined in a dcatli-liouse at Grandier Squaw Town, with 
two Indians to guard him. He loosened his bonds while the 
sentinels slept, got out of his cell, stole an Indian pony, and 
made his escape to Wheeling. He told the people of Wheeling 
that it was the best pony he ever rode ; he never parted with 
it. Colonel Lewis expected to give the Indians battle at their 
towns on the waters of the Sippo and Congo, but the second 
conflict was prevented, Governor Dunmore overtaking Colonel 
Lewis in person, and turning him back when the Colonel was 
in sight of these towns. 

Captain William McMeahen, a Eevolutionary veteran of 
Virginia, had two horses stolen by the Indians. He got on 
their trail and followed them to Squaw Town, where he saw 
his horses. The Indians were out on a circle hunt, but he met 
a squaw that could talk broken English, who told him where 
the horses were, but advised him not to take them, as the 
Indians would kill him. She concealed him in her cabin and 
fed him until the Indians returned home. She then made a 
way for his escape. When he arrived at Wheeling his wife had 
gone home to her father, believing that he had been killed by 
the Indians. He told the peoj)le that he had never seen so fine 
a country ; that the scenery and the richness of the soil sur- 
passed all description, and that he was impressed with the 
belief that some of his posterity would, at no distant day, become 
occupants of those fertile plains and beautiful and wide-spread 
valleys on the Scioto, and his impressions were verified. The 
widow of Major Boggs was his daughter. 



1 20 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 



Concord Township. 



The territory of Concord vany^ in truth, be called classic 
ground. Here, for past ages, the different Northwestern tribes 
of Indians annually met to hold their convocations; here once 
burned their council fires; here the clear, shrill voices of their 
chiefs, braves, and orators could be heard ; here was their 
ancient home in times of war and peace — Old Chillicothe. But 
they have disappeared. Old Town, their ancient metrojDolis, 
has passed into the hands of the pale faces, and is now called 
Fi'ankfort. Concord township is generally level, and the soil 
rich and productive. It is watered by the North fork of Paint 
creek and its tributaries. Harrod branch and Old Town run 
are the principal branches in the township. Paint creek de- 
rived its name from a Delaware chief; it heads in Madison 
county, flows through a fertile valley, and empties into Paint 
river near Chillicothe. At Old Town the allied tribes collected 
in 1774, marched forth and met Colonel Lewis, and fought the 
memorable battle of Point Pleasant, and after their defeat in 
this battle, they returned to these fields, collected their forces, 
and took their stand at Old Chillicothe. This was their strong 
position in their mode of warfare, and here they prepared 
themselves in anticipation of the enemy, or "Long Knives," 
to make a desperate struggle for their country and their town. 
The second conflict was prevented by Earl Dunraoi-e cross- 
ing the Pickaway plains from Camp Charlotte and heading 
Colonel Lewis, when the Colonel and his royal army had ar- 
rived in sight of two of their towns on the east side of the 
Scioto and on the east side of Congo creek. Here, in person, 
Governor Duumore turned Lewis back, he having made a 



Concord 'Township. 121 



treatj^ with the chiefs and agents under a large elm tree, the 
spot where Logan delivered his celebrated speech. This tree 
was fenced in, and is carefully cared for by James Boggs, the 
grandson of Captain John Boggs, the original owner of the 
noted farm and son of the late Major John Boggs. 

Records of Pioneers. 

Dr. D. Miller, grandfather of Dr. D. A. Miller, was a sur- 
geon during the Eevokitionary war under General Rufus Put- 
nam, and witnessed the battles of Brandywine and Cowpens. 
John Miller, his son, was born in Maine, and emigrated to 
Marietta in 1806, and settled on one of General Putnam's farms 
on the Muskingum. He moved to Athens in 1810, and in 1812 
he, with his company, was ordered out in the general call. He 
was a noted hunter. Daniel A. Miller, his son, an early emi- 
grant to the Scioto Valley, resides in Eoxabell, and is a suc- 
cessful magnetic physician. 

The following names of early pioneers were handed in by 
Dr. Miller: Hon. Jesse P. Shepherd, a merchant; he repre- 
sented Ross county in the legislature, and made a good mem- 
ber. Jacob Pancake, the first innkeeper, was very popular and 
extensively known ; he is now living retired on his farm. 
Jacob Fisher emigrated in 1800; a farmer. Jacob Fisher, Jr., a 
farmer and hunter; killed a she-bear and three cubs on his own 
farm, and also a large panther and other game; he was a Presby- 
terian, a good man, useful citizen, and much beloved. Jacob 
Briggs was an early pioneer; a large farmer; a Presbj^terian; 
a man of enterprise and energy. Captain Harrod, an early 
pioneer to Ross county, by occupation a firmer; he was a cap- 
tain of militia. His brother, General Harrod, was in the war 
of 1812; his father. Major Harrod, was in the war of 1776, also 
under St. Clair in 1791. Captain Thomas Harrod was killed by 
the Indians while plowing his corn near the mouth of a tribu- 
tary of Paint creek. The creek from that time was called Har- 
rod's creek. A company of men pursued the Indians to Old 



122 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

Town, on the Little Miami, but did not overtake them. On 
their return they fired at game, which so terrified the settlers 
that they all retreated to block-houses. The Indians, in 1773, 
took Colonel Daniel Boone prisoner near the Three Islands,, and 
got him within seven miles of Old Town, when he escaped. 
General Simon Kenton and Captain Slover run the gauntlet at 
Old Town in 1788, also at Squaw Grandier and Cornstalk 
Towns. Captain "Wesley McGinnis, Lieutenant John Westhart, 
Captain H. Mener, and David Carr run the gauntlet in Old 
Town in 1794. Westhart, who died at Watertown, said Old 
Town, in 1794, had over one hundred wigwams in it. Captain 
Slover says in 1783 it had some two hundred cabins and huts. 
Samuel Willy and J. Johnson were the first constables; David 
Anderson, first treasurer and clerk of Concord ; James Souther- 
land and Fletcher Goldsberg were early pioneers and useful 
men. F. Wells says Captain Thomas Harrod was killed by a 
white man in 1802, and was buried at the mouth of now Har- 
rod's creek, near the Bloomington road. Benjamin Goldsberg, 
who served in the war of 1812, under Colonel Wm. Clark. 
Eobert and James Stewart, A. Eobison, Berry Sane, and Benja- 
min Sane, aged ninctj'^, who killed three bears in 1798, and Peter 
Shannon, were all in the war of 1812; Eobert Galbreth, first 
merchant, T. Eittenhouse, second ; John and H. Haj^nes, Mor- 
ris and Wm. Latta, and John Fetters were all farmers; Eev. E. 
Finley, first M. E. preacher; Eev. J. Carothers, first Presbyterian 
preacher. Adam Mallow was a major, and H. Mallow a captain, 
in the war of 1812. F. Mills, Esq., aged seventy-three, J. W. 
Connel, Charles and Samuel Briggs, Samuel Johnson, Henry 
McAdam, Wm. and James Cochran, Isaac Pancake, Wm. Eows, 
Eobert Stiner, Wm. Anderson, Wm. Cupper, G. and William 
Haws, John Bush, Isaac Story, Charles and N. Primit, Wm. 
Dixon, and T. McBolster were all farmers and stock merchants. 
Mrs. Mary Branick is one hundred and eight years old, lives 
three guiles north of Frankfort, blind and very feeble; her 
husband, Nehemiah Branick, and his brother Philamon, were 



Concord Township. 123 

soldiers of the Eevolution. Felix Wells emigrated from Ken- 
tucky in 1799, with his father's family, to Virginia, thence to 
Scioto Valley in 1800. When of proper age, Felix was elected 
justice of the peace, which office he held fifteen years. He is 
now seventy-three years old; his father's name was Francis 
Wells. N. W. Bush, aged ninety-four. John Templin was in 
the war of 1812, aged eighty-three, still lives. William Stagg, 
and John JVIcjSTeil, aged eighty. Thomas Somerset emigrated 
from Kentucky to the Scioto Valley in 1796, and died in Frank- 
fort in 1834; he served in the war of the Eevolution ; his son, 
Henry Somerset, was in the war of 1812. The descendants of 
the old veteran of the Revolution live, with few exceptions, in 
Ross county. David Maddox, Thomas Robinson, and Levi 
Corgold were in the war of 1812. John King was in the war of 
1812. Elihu Wheeler, Ephraim Watson, James Dennison, 
Richard Donahue, and David Dooly were in the war of 1812: 
Milton Acton, John Acton, and Wheeler Andrew were all 
farmers and excellent citizens. Frederick Berley, chief In- 
dian spy in Earl Dunmore's war of 1774, the Revolutionary war 
of 1776, and Indian war of 1791. He was a noted hunter — his 
home in the deep forest, his lodgings in caves, dens, and rocks; 
he possessed a strong constitution, suiting the time in which he 
lived, and was a hermit by choice. He killed, during his life, 
one hundred and sixty bears, ninety-six panthers, one hundred 
and six wolves, one thousand elk and deer, eleven buffalo, and 
other game in proportion ; also ninety-six Indians. He was, 
during his excursions, often in company with the noted Indian 
spies, Kenton, Boone, Wolf, Boggs, Slover, Hughes, and Wetzel. 
He died in his cabin, aged one hundred and one years, on the 
waters of Mohegan, where a plain, and substantial monument 
was erected to his memory. He was taken prisoner three times 
by the Indians, and run the gauntlet at Sandusky, Squaw Town, 
and Old Town, in 1794. Peter Putnam emigrated to the 
Scioto Valley in 1796 to look, at the country. Being much 
pleased with the rich bottom and plains of Paint, he returned 



124 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohto. 

to Ilampshii-e, and brought his family out in 1809. His fomily 
consisted of Mary, Catherine, Elizabeth, Sophia, Peter, J"r., 
Joseph, Jacob, and Phillip. 

Genealogy of the Futnams. 

Major John Putnam was born in Buckinghamshire, England, 
February 23, 1574; his father. Captain Philip Putnam; his 
grandfather, Colonel Peter Putnam ; his great-grandfather, Wm. 
Eufus Putnam ; his great-great-grandfather, Edward Putnam, of 
Putmanshire, England, A. D. 1194. The emigrant to America, 
Major John Putnam, brought with him three brothers, Thomas, 
Nathaniel, and Elisha, and two sons, William and Edward. They, 
as a colony, settled Salem, Massachusetts, November 20, 1634, 
where they all established themselves as successful farmers, and 
many of their posterity still live there. General Israel Putnam 
and General Rufus Putnam were the great-great-grandsons of 
Major John Putnam, who died in the one hundred and seventh 
year of his age. Generals Israel and Eufus greatly distin- 
guished themselves in the French and Revolutionary wars. 
Edward Putnam, son of Major John Putnam, emigrated to 
Hardy county, Virginia, in 1662. The original name of the 
family was Puttenham, but in 1294, it was changed to Putmam, 
and at Salem, in 1635, changed to Putman. Still a portion of 
the descendants of Edward retain the name of Putman.* 

The above is an extract from Cutter's Life of Putnams, 
published by Coolridge & Brothers, Pearl street, New York, in 
1847. 

Peter Putnam lives on his farm on Indian creek; Philip 
is living on his Greenfield farm. Their children are living in 
the county in good circumstances. JosejDh and Jacob are dead. 



* There is a tradition that the Putnams emigrated from Frank- 
fort, Germany, to Putmanshire, England, about 998. All the Putnams in 
America descend from John Putnam, the pioneer of 1634, at Salem, Massa- 
chusetts. 



Concord 'Township. . 125 

Names of Pioneers handed in by Peter Putnam. 

Eev. Nathan Cory, first Baptist preacher. Stephen Cory, 
Nicholas Debolt, C. McElroy, M. Emrait, and Joseph Morse 
were all in the war of 1812. William Y. Yinsant was a justice 
twelve years. G-eorge Yinsant, Daniel and Jacob Shob, and 
Andrew Cochran, all farmers and mechanics, were also in the 
war of 1812. 

There was a block-house on William Cochran's farm. 
Colonel A. Hagler commanded- the militia in 1812. He was 
in the legislature two terms. 

Captain Eobert Hoddj' emigrated to the Scioto Yalley with 
his father's familj', from Harper's Ferry, in 179C. Richard 
Hoddy, father of Robert, served in the Revolutionary war. 
Chillicothe had but one cabin when Richard Hoddy landed 
there, and that was covered with bai^k. Two thousand Indians 
from Old Town were encamped on the bank of the Scioto, 
where the upper bridge crosses that river. The first Territorial 
legislature met under a sycamore tree in 1797. Richard Hoddy 
entered five hundred acres of land, four miles from Old Town, 
on Paint creek, where he built the first flour and saw mill in 
the valley. He died in 1830. 

Captain Robert, after the death of his father, took a load 
of flour to JSTew Orleans. He erected the first distillery in the 
valley. In 1812 he served as adjutant under Colonel William 
Clark, and after the war he was elected land appraiser, asses- 
sor, and tax collector. Captain Hoddy is still living on his old 
farm, enjoying good health, and is now eighty-nine years of 
age. He married Peter Putnam's sister, Elizabeth, by whom he 
■ has had several children, all now living in the county. 

Captain Hoddy served as commander-in-chief over the 
British prisoners after the war, until they were released. He 
was present at the shooting of the six militiamen. Captain 
Hoddy was well acquainted with Captain Philip Wolf. He 
says a braver man never lived. 

"Rocky Mountain," as he called himself, emigrated to 



126 Pioneer Record of Ross County , Ohio. 

Paint Yalley at an early day, and erected his cabin, eight by 
ten feet in size, near the mouth of Harrod's creek. He said he 
had been a spy under General Clark, in 1782, in his several 
campaigns against the Indians ; that he and Colonel Zane 
served as spies for Colonel Crawford in 1783; that he belonged 
to Colonel Lewis' legion in Lord Dunmore's campaign ; that he 
served under Washington as a spy, and was under G-eneral 
Harmar in 1791-2; that he was spy for Lewis and Clark during 
their exploring expedition over the Eocky Mountains; that 
in his war and hunting excursions he had killed Indians, 
panthers, bears, buffalo, wolves, elk, deer, and smaller game 
without number. He possessed a pleasant disposition, was pro- 
verbial for his honesty, and dressed very indifferently. The 
neighbors visited him to take him provisions, which he would 
accept with a smile. He never was married, having in his 
youth been disappointed in his first love, which was the cause 
of his choosing a hermit's life. He would work for his neigh- 
bors when called on, and continued to do so until advanced age 
incapacitated him for labor. He emigrated from Virginia, in 
1805, to the place already described. At the time of the break- 
ing out of the war of 1812, he was too old to serve. In politics 
he was a zealous Jefferson Democrat; in religion a Universalist. 
He never failed to attend elections. At the advanced age of 
ninety-nine years, he died alone in his cabin, his faithful dog 
alone witnessing his last moments. At his own request, he 
was buried on the top of the hill which overlooks his cabin. 
Eecently his remains were removed by kind friends to the 
Bush Cemetery, and a plain monument tells the place where 
rests the Rocky Mountain hermit. 

Mounds and Ancient Works. 

There are two large model mounds on the farm of the late 
Captain Goldsberg, from which have been exhumed skeletons, 
war implements, beads, arrows, etc. On Jacob Briggs' farm 
are several mounds, etc., and one near Old Town. 



Concord Township. 127 



There is a large Indian graveyard near Old Town, and 
numerous slieletons have been dug from small mounds by- 
laborers on the different pikes while taking out gravel for the 
roads. 

Names of the Creeks and Runs in the Township. 

North Fork, Little Paint, Harrod's creek, G-reenland creek, 
Dry run, Squaw Lick, Hoddy run, and Indian creek. 



Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 



Scioto Township. 



Scioto township takes its name from the Scioto river, 
which runs through it. In early times, keel-boats and smaller 
craft ascended the Scioto to the station, which was about three 
miles below where Chillicothe now is. Some years ago, during 
very high water, a steamboat made a trip from Portsmouth to 
Circleville, and returned in safety. It created quite a sensa- 
tion among the quiet denizens of the valley. 

Before the completion of the Ohio canal, boats loaded with 
flour, etc., descended the Erie to New Orleans. These boatmen 
were a rough class, and sometimes, when a number of theip 
were collected together, they would set the authorities at defi- 
ance, but taken all in all they were trustworthy and good- 
hearted. If goods were injured or lost, they were always 
ready to give full satisfaction. They were ever prompt in a 
quarrel to espouse the cause of the weaker party, especially of 
old men or strangers. The pioneer preachers held them in 
high estimation, and had great influence over them. 

Chillicotlie. 

The town of Chillicothe, in Scioto township, was made the 
seat of government for the Northwestern Territory in 1800, 
which was previously at Cincinnati, but by act of Congress 
removed to Chillicothe. It was incorporated as a town Jan- 
uary 4, 1802, and the following officers appointed by General 
St. Clair, commanding the Northwestern Territory : 

Samuel Finley, Edward Tiffin, James Ferguson, Alexander 
McLaughlin, Arthur Stewart, John Carlisle, and Eeuben Adams, 
Members of Select Council ; Edward Harr, Assessor ; Isaac 



Scioto T^ownship. 129 



Brink, Supervisor; William Wallace, Tax Collector; Joseph 
Tiffin, Marshal. 

The records of the town from this time till March 1, 1819, 
must be hid away or lost, as they are not to be found with the 
balance. 

March 1, 1819, Levin Bett was Mayor; John Waddle, 
Treasurer ; George Nashee, Eecorder ; Jacob Eichenberger, T. 
Y. Swearengen, James Barnes, David Kinkead. and E. Souther- 
land, Members of Common Council. 

The tax duplicate contained two hundred and twenty-two 
houses, two hundred and seventy-seven cattle, and other prop- 
erty, amounting in the aggregate to §538,295, and a tax of 
one-third per cent., assessed to pay the current expenses of the 
corporation. 

In November, 1820, a disastrous fire occurred, which caused 
the organization of a fire department, which, as will be seen, 
was pretty extensive for that early day. Thomas James was 
appointed director ; William Cai'son, Edward King, Eobert G. 
Wilson, and William McFarland, assistants; Joseph Kerr, cap- 
tain of the bucket men ; James Cliftbrd, first lieutenant; Wil- 
liam Creighton, Jr., second lieutenant; John McCoy, captain 
of the property guard; John McLandburgh and James Miller, 
lieutenants; James Phillips, captain of hook and ladder and 
ax company ; Eichard Long, Adam Eeister, and James How- 
ard, lieutenants. It was made the duty of the marshal to 
appoint citizens each night to patrol the streets and prevent 
confusion in time of fire. 

Chillicothe was incorporated as a city April 9, 1838, and 
an election for city officers ordered, which resulted in the choice 
of William H. Skerrlit for Mayor ; Amasa D. Sproat, Treas- 
urer; Eobert Adams, Eecorder; Jacob Wolfe, Assessor; and 
Councilmen as follows : First Ward — John Leggitt, long term ; 
J. A. Fulton, short term. Second Ward — John Wood, long 
term; William E. Drury, short term. Third Ward — Thomas 
Orr, long term ; Levi Anderson, short term. Fourth Ward — 
James Howard, long term; James S. McGinnis, short term. 



130 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

John A. Fulton was elected President of the first City Council. 
Eobert Adams declined accepting the office of Eecorder, and 
Thomas Ghormley was elected in his stead. James McCollister 
was elected City Marshal ; Ebenezer Tuttle, Clerk of Market, 
and John Carlisle, Jr., Weighmaster, by the Council. 

There has been no change in the corporation line since 
that time, while the suburbs have been rapidly increasing in 
population, and are now so densely populated that they 
should be annexed to the city proper. Present population, 
nine thousand. 

The Pioneer Business Men of Chillicothe — By Bev. Dr. S. Mc- 
Adow. 

Below I give you, as near as I can recollect, a list of the 
majority of the professional and business men of Chillicothe in 
its early days : 

Ministers — First Presbyterian — Eobert W. Finley, William 
Speer, Eobert G. Wilson. 

Associate Beformed — Samuel Crothers, John McFarland, 
Joseph Claybaugh. 

Methodist Episcopal — Edward Tiffin (local), E. Harr (local), 
William Swaysey, Abdel Coleman. 

Episcopalian — Messrs. Kellogg, Bosman, Peete. 

Physicians — Samuel McAdow, Edward Tiffin, Joseph Scott, 
John Edminston, Samuel Monett, Crocker & Kennedy, Buell, 
Pinkerton, Hays., Atkinson, Wills. 

Lawyers — Jessup Couch, Henry Brush, Thomas Scott, 
Joseph Sill, Eichard Douglas, Edward King, Benjamin G-. 
Leonard, William Creighton, Jr., William K, Bond, William 
S. Murphy, Michael Baldwin, Frederick Grimke, Nathan Saw- 
yer. 

Editors — John Collins, Eichardson, James Barnes, 

Nashee & Denny, John Andrew, John Bailhache. 

Clerk of Court — Humphrey Fullerton. 

First Postmaster— W\\\\dim. Creighton ; first deputy, Eben- 
ezer Tuttle. 



Scioto Township. 131 



Registers of the Land Office — Thomas Worthington, Jesse 
Spencer. 

Druggists — Araasa Delano, Ira Delano. 

Surveyors — Cadwallader Wallace, John A. Fulton, Allen 
Latham, Matthew Bonner. 

Chillicothe Bank (first bank established in Chillicothe) Offi- 
cers — First president, Samuel Findley; first cashier, William 
Sterrett ; second president, Thomas James ; second cashier, John 
Woodbridge. 

Merchants — John McDougal, George Eenick, John McCoy, 
Thomas James, John Whitesldes, John McLandburgh, John 
Woodbridge, Nathan Gregg, Thomas Gregg, McLaughlin & 
Kinkaid, Eobert Dun, James McClintick, William McDowell, 
Samuel Tagart, Barr & Campbell, Isaac Evans, Samuel Brown, 
George Brown, Ephriam Doolittle, William McFarland, Waddle 
& Davidson, W. E. Southard, William Eoss, William Carson, 
Nirarod Hutt, William Irwin, William Miller, S. & F. Edwards, 
Ci-aighead Ferguson, Samuel Ferguson, Benjamin Eaton, J. B. 
Andrews, Thos. Swearingen, Samuel Swearingen, O. T. Eeeves, 
James Miller, John Wood, George Wood, James Culbertson, 
Smith Culbertson. 

Fruit Merchants — The first fruit merchant was a man 
named Bebier, or Bebien,and following him came John Shelter. 
Here I will remark that Mr. Sherer went to the State of Penn- 
sylvania, purchased his fruits, etc., shipped them to Portsmouth, 
Ohio, and from thence had them boated up the Scioto river to 
Chillicothe in his own keel-boat, and he alwaj's had plenty of 
fruits, both green and dried. 

Hotel Reefers — Benjamin Umsted, Captain Lamb, Forest 
Micker, Green H. Lee, Adam Haller, Adam Betz, John Hutt, 
Thomas Cohen, John McCanu, Edmond Basey, John Eunkles, 
Stephen Cissua, Captain Beach, William Fitch, John Watson, 
James Phillips, John Madeira, Shaler Ives. 

Tanners — Adam Turner, Nathan Eeeves, Mantle, 

William Young, Samuel Brown, John McClean, Ely McKenzie, 
Thomas Jacobs, William Bobbins, George Armstrong. 



132 Pioneer Record of Ross Counly, Ohio. 

Cabinet Makers— John KirkiDatrick, William Kirkpatrick, 
Hume, William Eobinson, Eobert Eobinson, John L. 



Tabb, Joseph Shepherd, Jonathan Miner, John Johnson, John 
Snyder. 

]}ifail Manufacturers — I. Cook, Joseph Miller. 

Cotton Factories — Hector Sandford, Ephraim Doolittle. 

Woolen Factories — Moses Trader, Abraham Thompson, Levi 
Anderson, John Wilson. 

Oil Jl^tY/s— Thomas Davidson, W. Eoss. 

Book Binders — John Hellings, Eichard H. Boyer, 

Foster. 

Stone Cutters — G-eorge Meech, James Guin. 

Silversmiths — John Cellers, Peter Spurk, James Gates, B. 
P. Pratt. 

Candle Factories — Eobert Long, William Morrow. 

Weavers — John Philip Ott, Hugh Ghormley, John Wilson. 

Grist and Saw Mill — David B. McComb. 

Plasterers — James English, Barton, John Ferree, 

Joshua Evans, Jeremiah Beall. 

Wagon Makers — Jolui Eobey, J. Myers, Thomas Hilliard, 
James Wright. 

Coopers — Morris Fowler, Titus Marsh, James Wright. 

Windmill Manufacturer and Cabinet Maker — Henry Baker. 

Brick Maker — William Downs. 

Clerks in Land Office, Stores, Banks, etc. — Winn Wj'nship, 
Sam'l Williams, Jos. Tiffin, Oliver Simpson, Capt. S. Leffingwell, 
Henry S. Lewis, Samuel Campbell, James P. Campbell, James 
S. Scranton, Austin Buchanan, William H. Douglas, George 
Tallman, Jonathan F. AYoodside, Charles Madeira. 

Carpenters — Conrad Christman, Frederick Fisher, Henry 
Johnson, Samuel Cook, James Bramble, William "Waddle, John 
Pickens, Christopher Andricks, Eichard Snyder, George Frew. 
Adam Eeister, Thomas Bradford, Wesley Bi-owniug, Jesse 
Purdum, James Clark. 

Saddlers — James McDougal, Thomas McDougal, Samuel 



Scioto 'Township. 133 



Ewing, Samuel C. Clifford, Peter Leister, Eobert Long, Alex- 
ander Ewing. 

Saddletree Makers — Daniel Dulaney, Joseph Sands. 

Hatters — G-eorge Williams, Farin, John Butler, John 

Laird, Hawks & Swift, Andrew McGrinnis, Joseph Thompson, 
E. W. Smith. 

Tinners — Henry Jack, William Jack, Andrew Deemer. 

Whitesmiths— Zacoh Ott, Daniel Ott, Michael Ott. 

Tailors — John Watson, Alexander Beard, John Hall, John 
Hunter, Thomas Loyd, William D. Clarie, Jonas Baum, Moses 
Levi, William Y. Grilraore, James Montgomery, George Wolf, 
Clark, John Mitchell, Joseph Kirkpatrick. 

Groceries and Liquor Stores — Limle & Wolfe, Thomas Mur- 
ray, Amasa Ives, John Rogers, Thomas Braden. 

Gunsmiths — Peter Fortney, Isaac Groves, Jerman Jordan, 

Stone and Brick Masons — Levi Sidwell, Hugh Black, Ben- 
jamin Thompson, John Watson, William Rutledge, Henry Sum- 
mersett, James Gibbs, Peter Brown, John England, George 
Saxton, James Brown, Owen Dailey, Eleazer Dailey, Aaron 
Dailey. 

Chair Makers — James Phillips, Anderson, Thomas 

Eenshaw, Henry Ma}^, Christopher Tucker, Hector Sandford, 
George Hoffman. 

Wheehvrights — James Robinson, James Howard. 

Potteries — George Snapp, Jacob Wolf. 

Lumber Merchant— James English. 

Painters — Daniel Madeira, William Stubbs, Joseph Dunlap. 

Blacksmiths — Peter Day, George Haynes, George Scott, 
Edward Fitzgerald, George Hitchens, Hugh Hillhouse, Samuel 
Hillhouse, Adam JSTebergall, Thomas S. Brattin, Thomp- 
son, Jacob Bonser, Alexander Wibly. 

Farmers — Anthony Walke, Joseph Kerr, James Swearen- 
gen, John Johnson. 

Shoe Stores — Drayton M. Curtis, E. P. Kendrick. 

Boot and Shoe Makers — William Mayhew, John McCor- 
mick, John Dun, Solomon Curtis, Saxton, Jacob May, 



134 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

Michael Bj^erly, Ezekiel Knowles, William Knowles, James 
Eyan, John Eoss, George W. Chandley. 

Pump Makers — Jacob Eikleburner, Greorge Motter. 

Teamsters — Ely Harrison, Batteal Harrison, William Watt, 
Joseph Farden, Andrew Poe, John Armstrong. 

Grocery and Clothing Store — William H. LeflSngwell. 

Dyer — Barnett Lauman. 

Butchers — Matthias Hufnagle, Daniel McCollister, Conrad 
Fultz, John Briney, John Baker, Daniel Baker, Zebulon Hukle. 

Bakers — Adam Haller, John Martin, William Cogan, John 
Hutt, Lawrence McClure, William Davidson, John Clifford. 

Breioers — William Eobbins, Abram Kopp, John W. Collett, 
Donahue. 

Eope Factory — Johnson Lofland. 

Well Digger — Peter Briney. 

Orall those named above but twenty-eight are now living. 

General Duncan 3IcArthur. 

[From Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio.] 

Near Adena, in a beautiful situation, is Fruit Hill, the seat 
of the late General Duncan McArthur, and latterly the resi- 
dence of his son-in-law, the Hon. Wm. Allen. 

Duncan McArthui*, who was of Scotch parentage, was born 
in Dutchess county, New York, in 1772, and when eight years 
of age his father moved to the frontiei'S of Pennsylvania. His 
father was in indigent circumstances, and Duncan, when of 
sufficient age, hired out as a laborer. At the age of eighteen 
years, he was a volunteer in Harmar's campaign. In 1792, he 
"was a private in the company of Captain William Enoch, and 
acted with so much intrepidity in the battle of Captina as to 
render him very popular with the frontier men. After this, 
he was for awhile a laborer at some salt works near Maysville, 
Kentucky, and in the spring of 1793 engaged as a chain-bearer 
to General Nathaniel Massie, and penetrated with him and 
others into the Scioto Valley to make surveys, at a time when 
such an enterprise was full of danger from the Indians. He 



Scioto 'Township. 135 



was afterward employed as a spj' against the Indians on the 
Ohio, and had some adventures with them, elsewhere detailed 
in this volume. He was again in the employment of General 
Massie; and after the treaty of G-reenville, studied surveying, 
became an assistant surveyor to General Massie, and aided him 
to lay out Chillicothe. He, in the course of this business, be- 
came engaged in the purchase and sale of lands, by which he 
acquired great landed wealth. 

In 1805, he was a member of the legislature from Eoss ; 
in 1806, elected colonel, and in 1808, major general of the 
State militia. In May, 1812, he was commissioned colonel in 
the Ohio Volunteers, afterward marched to Detroit, and himself 
and regiment were included in Hull's surrender. He was 
second in command on this unfortunate expedition ; but such 
was the energy he displayed, that, notwithstanding, after his 
return as a prisoner of war on parole, the Democratic party, in 
the fall of 1812, elected him to Congress by an overwhelming 
majority. In March, 1813, he was commissioned a brigadier 
general in the army, and having been regularly exchanged as 
prisoner of war, soon after resigned his seat in Congress to en- 
gage in active service. 

About the time the enemy were preparing to attack Fort 
Stevenson, the frontiers were in great danger, and Harrison 
sent an express to McArthur to hurry on to the scene of action 
with all the force he could muster. Upon this, he ordered the 
second division to march in mass. 

This march of the militia was named the ''general call.'' 
As soon as Governor Meigs was advised of the call made by 
McArthur, he went forward and assumed in person the com- 
mand of the militia now under arms. General McArthur went 
forward to the scene of action, and the militia followed in 
thousands. So promptly were his orders obeyed, that in a few 
daj^s the Sandusky plains were covered with nearly eight 
thousand men, mostly from Scioto Yalley. This rush of militia 
to defend the exposed frontier of our country bore honorable 



136 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

testimonj^ that the patriotism of the citizens of the Scioto Yal- 
ley did not consist of noisy pi^ofessions, but of pi'actical service 
in defense of their country. This general turn-out of the 
militia proves that General Massie, and the few pioneers who 
followed him into the wilderness and assisted him in making 
the first settlements in the fertile valley of the Scioto river, had 
infused their own daring and entei'prising spirit into the spirit 
of the community. Among these eight thousand militia were 
found in the ranks, as private soldiers, judges, merchants, law- 
yers, preachers, doctors, mechanics, farmers, and laborers of 
every description — all anxious to repulse the ruthless invaders 
of our soil. Indeed, the Scioto country was so stripped of its 
male population on this occasion, that the women, in their ab- 
sence, were compelled to carry their grain to mill or let their 
children suffer from want. These troops having arrived at 
Upper Sandusky formed what was called the " grand camp of 
Ohio militia." General McArthur was detailed to the command 
of Fort Meigs. The victory of Perry, on the 10th of Septem- 
ber, gave a fresh impetus to the army, and Harrison concen- 
trated his troops at Portage river, where, on the 20th, the 
brigade of McArthur, from Fort Meigs, joined him. On the 
27th, the arm}^ embarked in boats, and crossed over to Maiden, 
and a few days after, General McArthur, with the greater part 
of the troops, was charged with the defense of Detroit. 

After the resignation of Harrison, in the spring of 1814, 
McArthur, being the senior brigadier general, the command of 
the Northwestern army devolved on him. As the enemj'- re- 
, tired discomfited from the upper end of Lake Erie, and most of 
the Indians were suing for peace, the greater part of tho regu- 
lar troops under his command were ordered to the Niagara 
frontier. McArthur had a number of small forts to garrison 
along the frontier, while he kept his main force at Detroit and 
Maiden to overawe the Canadians and the scattering Indians 
still in the British interest. The dull monotony of going from 
post to post was not the most agreeable service to his energetic 



Scioto 'Township. 137 



mind. He projected an expedition into Canada, on which he 
was absent about a fortnight from Detroit, with six hundred 
and fifty troops and seventy Indians. At or near Malcolm's 
Mill, the detachment had an action with a force of about five 
hundred Canadian militia, in which they defeated them with a 
loss of twenty-seven killed and wounded, and made one hun- 
dred and eleven prisoners ; while the American loss was only 
one killed and six wounded. In this excursion, the valuable 
mills of the enemy, in the vicinity of Grand river, were de- 
stroyed, and their resources in that quarter essentially impaired. 
After returning from this successful expedition, the war lan- 
guished in the Northwest. General McArthur continued in ser- 
vice, and was at Detroit when peace was declared. 

In the fall of 1815, he was again elected to the legislature. 
In 1816, he was appointed commissioner to negotiate a treaty 
with the Indians at Springwoll, near Detroit ; he acted in the 
same capacity at the treaty of Fort Meigs, in September, 1817, 
and also at the treaty at St. Maiy's, in the succeeding year. 
In 1817, upon being elected to the legislature, he was a com- 
petitor with the late Charles Hammond, Esq., for the speaker's 
chair, and triumphed by a small majority. The next summer 
the party strife on the United States' Bank question, which had 
commenced the previous session, was violent. McArthur de- 
fended the right of that institution to place branches wherever 
it chose in the State, and on this issue was again a candidate 
for the legislature and was defeated. 

A considerable majority of members elected this year 
were opposed to the United States' Bank. Mr. Hammond was 
again elected a member of the Assembly, and by his talents, 
and readiness in wielding his pen, together with his strong and 
confident manner of speaking, was able to dictate law to this 
Assembly. A law was passed at this session of the legisla- 
ture, taxing each branch of the United States' Bank, located in 
the State of Ohio, fifty thousand dollars. When the time ar- 
rived for collecting this tax, the branch banks refused to pay. 



138 Pioneer Record oj Ross Counly, Ohio. 

Mr. Hammond had provided in tlie law for a case of this kind ; 
the collector, with an armed force, entered the branch bank in 
the town of Chillicothe and took what money he thought pro- 
per. 

" The bank brought suit in the United States Circuit Court 
against all the State officers concerned in this forcible collec- 
tion. Mr. Hammond, a distinguished lawyer, with other emi- 
nent counsel, were employed by the State of Ohio to defend this 
important cause. The District Court decided the law of Ohio, 
levying the tax, unconstitutional, and, of course, null and void ; 
and made a decree, directing the State to refund to the bank 
the money thus forcibly taken. The cause was appealed to the 
Supreme Coui't of the United States. Mr. Hammond defended 
the suit in all its stages. The Supreme Court decided this cause 
against the State of Ohio. Thus was settled this knotty and 
vexatious question, which, for a time, threatened the peace of 
the Union." 

In 1819, McArthur was again elected to the legislature. 
In 1822, he was again chosen to Congress, and became an un- 
deviating supporter of what was then called the American 
system. While General McArthur remained a member of Con- 
gress, he had considerable influence in that body. His perse- 
vering industry, his energetic mind, his sound judgment, and 
practical business habits, rendered him a very efficient member. 
He would sometimes make short, pithy remarks on the busi- 
ness of the house, but made no attempts at those flourishes of 
eloquence which tickle the fancy and please the ear. After 
having served two sessions in Congress, he declined a re-elec- 
tion, being determined to devote all his eff"orts to arrange his 
domestic concerns. He left the field of politics to others, and 
engaged with unremitting attention to settle his land business. 
In 1830, McArthur was elected Governor of Ohio b}^ the 
anti -Jackson J)arty, and on the expiration of his term of office 
■was a candidate for Congress, and lost his election, which termi- 
nated his political career. By an unfortunate accident, in 



Scioto 'Township. 139 



June, 1830, McArthur was horribly bruised and maimed. 
From this severe misfortune his bodily and mental powers con- 
stantly declined, until death, several years after, closed his 
career. 

Duncan McArthur was a strong minded, energetic man, 
and possessed an iron will. He was an honorable man, close in 
business, and had many bitter and severe enemies. His life 
adds another to the many examples of the workings of our free 
institutions, of one rising from obscurity to the highest offices 
in the gift of a State. 

Thomas Wortliington — Chronological Sketch. 

1773. Thomas Worthington, youngest son of Robert 
Worthington, was born near Charleston, Jefferson (then 
Berkeley) county. Virgin ia. 

Kobert Worthington, a farmer, was a man of great energy and indus- 
try ; a justice of the peace, and afterward a captain of scouts during the 
French and Indian war of 1755. 

1780. Lost both his parents, and his early education 
neglected. 

1786. Chose for his guardian G-eneral William Darke, and 
then, for the first time is sent regularly to school, and kindly 
treated. 

General Darke was a captain in the Virginia line during the Kevolu- 
tionary war, and a rough old Indian fighter afterward ; was present at St. 
Clair's defeat. He was very kind to his ward, and sent him to the best 
schools (not very good) that .the country then afl*orded, and endeavored to 
procure him a midshipman's warrant to gratify his longing for the sea, but 
did not succeed. One of his sons accompanied Thomas Worthington to 
Georgetown, where he enlisted as a sailor. 

1790. Groes to sea, contrary to the wishes of his guardian, 
as a common sailor, in the Brittania. a British merchant vessel, 
of Port Greenock, Scotland. 

1790-91. Visits (as a sailor) the northern parts of the 
British Islands, and many of the ports of Denmark, Sweden, 
Norway, and Russia. Remtdns absent two years. 

1792. Narrowly escapes being impressed as a sailor by a 



T40 Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio. 

British press-gang. G-rows tired of the life of a sailor, and 
returns home. 

A press-gang came aboard the vessel at Port Greenock. All hands 
were paraded on deck, and, probably in compliment to his good looks, our 
young American was selected to serve the king. He was claimed as a Brit- 
ish subject, and a deserter from a British man of war. These facts were 
proved by competent false witnesses to the entire satisfaction of the red- 
nosed lieutenant who commanded the press-gang, and he was about to take 
possession of his hopeful recruit — stout, well made, and just six feet high— r 
quite a prize. At this juncture James Taylor, captain of the vessel, and a 
true friend of young "Worthington, took the leader of the press-gang aside, 
and told him that the relatives and guardian of Worthington were persons 
of wealth and influence in Virginia, who would not tail to institute 
inquiries about him, which would be very damaging to any one who should 
violate his rights as an American citizen. These statements, and a small fee, 
turned the scales, and Worthington escaped the direful slavery of a Brit- 
ish man of war, to which so many of our countrymen were then, and for 
years afterward, subjected. He was always grateful to the generous 
Englishman who saved him from this cruel bondage, and a friendly cor- 
respondence was kept up between them for manj' years. 

1796. Married to Eleanor Swearingen, and visits the then 
Northwest Territory, examines it, and (1797) purchases land 
near Chillicothe. 

Eleanor, wife of Thomas Worthington, was a woman of fine mind and 
culture and remarkable business capacity. Delicately brought up, she 
faced the dangers and hardships of the new settlement in the Northwest 
Territory with a brave spirit. Her husband being mostly in public life, she 
managed his property in his absence with great skill and success. She was 
left a widow in 1827, with ten children, and a large estate deeply incum- 
bered with debt. She contributed greatly, by her economy, frugality, and 
self-denial, to the education of the younger children, and, by her wise coun- 
sels, secured to them all a large part of their inheritance. She died in 
1849, at a good old age, with the blessings of the many afflicted whom her 
active charities had relieved, and beloved and respected by all. 

1798. April. Eemoves, with his wife and an infant 
daughter, to Chillicothe, having liberated with her consent and 
brought with them to the free Northwest Territory, her slaves 
and his own, forty-six in number, of all ages and of both sexes. 
Builds mill, plants orchards, and clears land. 



Scioto 'Township. 141 



1799-1801. Member of the Territorial Legislature. 

1802. Member of the Constitutional Convention. 
While the first Constitutional Convention of Ohio was in session, Mr. 
Worthington learned from a hunter whom he confided in, that the "South- 
ern hend" of Lake Michigan was "a day's journey" further south than 
represented on the maps of the day. He therefore introduced the clause 
which eventually secured to Ohio the mouth of the Maumee river and the 
sites of Toledo and Maumee, with a strip of valuable territory. He also 
introduced a clause prohibiting negro apprenticeships, and thus prevented 
in Ohio a form of negro slavery which prevailed for many years in Indiana 
and Illinois. 

1803-07 and 1810-14. Member of the Senate of the United 
ptates. 

While in the United States Senate, he procured the passage of a law 
dividing tbe public domain into quarter sections instead of squares of two 
miles ; also, Worthington's law for quieting land titles in the Virginia 
Military District, well known and much approved by the settlers of the day. 

1815-19. Governor of Ohio; founded the Ohio State Li- 
brary. 

Soon after his election as Governor, while on a visit to Columbus, he 
saw that the public square on which the Capitol now stands was in a rude 
and filthy condition, and incumbered with logs and brush piles. The 
town authorities would do nothing, so he went to the warden of the Peni- 
tentiary and induced him to give him the control of about thirty of the 
convicts, with the necessary guards. After a brief speech to this squad, he 
marched them to the public square, and, for two days, kept them busily at 
work, sharing their labors, until the square was entirely cleared. No man 
attempted to escape, and all worked cheerfully and efficiently. This anec- 
dote I had from the late Dr. Lincoln Goodale, who was present and wit- 
nessed the joint labor, for the public good, of the Governor and convicts. 
1820-25. In the Ohio Legislature ; took a prominent part 
in the new sj'stems of finance and of common schools, the Ohio 
canal, the penitentiaiy system, etc. 

To his adopted State the labors of Thomas Worthington during these 
latter years of his life were the most valuable of all. Then was laid the 
foundations of the prosperity and progress for which Ohio has since been 
so remarkable. And in this great work there was no man who labored 
more faithfully and efficiently than he did, in shaping the new systems of 
finance, public instruction, and public improvements then commenced. 



142 Pioneer Record of Ross Counly, Ohio. 

1826. Canal Commissioner. 

1827— June 20. Died at the city of New York. 

Son. William Allen. 

William Allen, the subject of this brief record, is truly a 
self-made man. He emigrated from Virginia to Chillicothe at 
an early day, on foot and alone — a boy. He was sent by a rela- 
tive to the Chillicothe Academy, where he soon developed, as a 
member of the debating society, talents of the first order, and 
early attracted the attention of the leading men of Chillicothe. 
Finishing his studies, he was induced by friends to study law 
with General Edward King, an eminent attorney. He gradu- 
ated with high distinction, and became celebrated as an orator. 
Colonel Allen represented the Chillicothe district in Congress 
for one term, and as a Senator of Ohio for two terms. He was 
the acknowledged leader of his party. He married the daugh- 
ter of the late Governor McArthur, and is the owner of the cel- 
ebrated Fruit Hill farm. Dr. Scott, his son-in-law, lives with 
him. 

£arly Settlers. 

Rev. Hector Sanford emigrated to the Scioto Vallej' in 1799, 
and was one of the first ministers in Chillicothe. His father, 
Angus Sanford, came from England in 1772, and served as an 
officer in the Revolutionary war ; was also with Dunmore in 
1774. Hector's sons are Joseph, John, and Lemuel. Major 
John Willet was in the war of 1812 ; was an early pioneer and 
a brave man. General McNeary was in the war of 1812; his 
old homestead still stands on McNeary's run. 

The following names of early settlers wei'e contributed by 
John Robinson : William Rogers, Andrew and George Pontious, 
Peter Porter, James, Robert, Joseph, Jacob, and William Mc- 
Dill, Michael Thomas, Robert Adams, James McCrae, Joseph 
Clark, William Robinson, Enos and John Pursell, Jacob Grun- 
dy, Richard and John Acton, Thomas, Robert, and William 
Brown, William Pool, James Danans, John and George Ricups, 



Scioto 'Township. 143 



Daniel Dixon, Eobert Worthington, Thomas Shields, James 
Prior, Hugh and James Cochran, Samuel Smith, Daniel Augus- 
tus, James Carr, James Armstrong, Thomas Earl, Thomas Junk, 
John Haynes ; Thomas Arthur, still living, and ninety years of 
age. All the above were eai-ly pioneers of West Scioto town- 
ship. 

Nicholas Haynes, father of Henry and John Haynes— who 
are still living on the old homestead — emigrated to West Scioto 
in 1808. He was in the Eevolutionary war. The Haynes fam- 
ily record shows thirty names between 1769 and 1815. 

James Shane, one of the pioneers, was a Dunkard preacher, 
and a noted hunter in early times, and had two sons — Daniel 
and Abraham. He occupied part of the farm known as the 
Wood's tract. Hugh and Alonzo Carson and the Sullivan fam- 
ily were the fii'st men in the valley. The Dunn family were 
also among the earliest pioneers. E. FuUerton was a squatter 
on the old Zane tract, and an active defender of the settlement 
against Indian attacks. The old Zane trace passed through 
this section on the east side of the river. Isaac, Jacob, An- 
drew, and Adam Creamer settled near the river. Adam was in 
the Eevolution under General Greene, and all of his boys were 
in the war of 1812 under General Harrison. They were all 
strong, hearty, large men, well calculated to endure the hard- 
ships and privations of pioneer life. Many of their descend- 
ants now live in Fayette county. 

Colored Pioneers. 

Thomas Wptson came in 1796; Henry Evens, 1798; Eobert 
Pleasant, 17P0; Nelson Piles, 1800; Samuel Nichol, 1808; Abram 
Nichol, li=J9; Peter James, 1812; Henry Hill, 1813; John Fid- 
ler, Sc.., 18U; John Fidler, Jr., 1814. The above settled in 
Scirto township. 

Indian Occupation of Ross County in 1750. 

The Shawanese, Piquas, and Chillicothe tribes. 



144 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

CHILLICOTHE BUSINESS MEN. 

Main Street. 

B. Gorham, merchant tailor; William Hays, baker; John 
Ewing, grocer; Jeremiah McCollister, wholesale liquor mer- 
chant ; Adam Grreisheimer, huckster and grocer; John Kellhofer, 
stove and tin store; Thomas Murphy, grocer: William Conner, 
grocer; S. H. Mosher, grocer; H. W. Woodrow, sewing ma- 
chines; John Gunther, grocer; William Vincent, grocer; B. F. 
Duncan, Singer machine agent; E. K. Mick, auctioneer; E. F. 
Lewis, saddler; A. W. West, gunsmith; John Dunn, marble 
works; Jacob Buchen, dry goods. 

Paint Street. 

R. B. Smart, T. Woodrow, Clough & Bennett, Carson & 
Budd, S. C. Swift, F. Hellman, Joseph Stewart, Peter Hoifman, 
Carlisle & Co., A. H. Warner, dry goods merchants; Dr. E. H. 
Lansing, John A. Nipgen, AUston & Davis, druggists; J. G. 
Snyder, M. Lewis & Co., wholesale hardware stores; A. C. Ire- 
land, wholesale stove and tin store; C. C. Limle, stove and copper 
shop; C.Erdman, D.Kline, S, Epstine, H. Heicht, J. Jurenmon, 
clothing stores; P. M. Miner, Miller Patterson & Cutter, hat 
stores ; C. F. Dufeu, Anton Pfaff, S. Shreckengaust, jewelers ; W. 
E. Buser, furniture store; Emmett House, Warner House, Union 
House; John Kaiser, F. Mar luff, confectioners; Platter, Clay- 
pool & Ingall, wholesale grocers; William Jacob, I. Cory, 
Smart & Kilvert, grocers; M. Cahill, M. N. Hurst, J. G. Weid- 
man, shoe stores; Schaeffer & Kramer, E.H. Kauffman, tobaccon- 
ists; G. W. White, F. A. Simonds, photographers ; G. W. Harper, 
bazar; St. Burkley, music store ; A. Pearson, A. M'jttz, saddlers ; 
W. B. Mills, painter and glazier; Mrs. E. Mead, mili:uer; E. P. 
Safford, G. P. Schaeffer, insurance agents ; J. H. Putuim, Ad- 
vertiser; Bond & Son, Gazette; Armstrong, Register; Jnmes 
Eowe, United States land office receiver; W. B. Frankl.'n, 
United States register; Hugh McCony, provisions, groceries, 
etc.; Maule & Elsass, dry goods; T. & M.Schilder, J. Sully, 
srrocers. 



Scioto 'Township. 145 



Water Street. 

Barmann & Burgess, dry goods store ; Clark & Boggs, 
wholesale grocers; Wm. Poland, wholesale liquor and grocer; 
Boulger & Co., wholesale liquor merchants; Bartlett & Son, 
wholesale packers, etc.; E. Lewis, druggist; J. T. Bonner, 
flour and feed store; Marfield & Bro., Clinton Mills; Bennett & 
Co., J. Hirn, grocers; J. E. Bailey, baker and grocer; P. Fink, 
meat shop ; T. J. Guin, steam stone mill ; A. J. Barlow, livery 
and feed stable; Frank Eeppel, furniture store; M. Brendle, 
shoe store; Schrader & Betz, carriage manufactory; MissBriggs, 
milliner; Clinton House; G. A. Benner, Mrs. Hanley, J. Hirn, 
clothiers, etc.; Baber House; J. F. Woodsides, JEtna sewing 
factory; H. M. Pinto, insurance agent; A. Helmuth, grocer; 
F. Aid, shoe shop; Chillicothe House, A. Hirn; D. Oberer, 
saddler. 

Walnut Street. 

J. Brown, wagon shop ; J. W. Brown, cigar factory; C. E. 
Eosenfeld, furniture and picture ft-ame factory; W. B. Haynes, 
gunsmith; G. Gesler, baker; Assor Blackburn, blacksmith; 
Lewis Shenkle, furniture store. 

Second Street. 

G. J. Herman, dry goods; Schrader & Betz, carriage manu- 
factory; G. W. Fitzsimmons, E. G. Duff, W. A. Ziebold, J. E. 
Deiter, Hugh Savage, grocers ; H. Maul, merchant tailor ; Yeo 
& Son, G. Perkins, books and stationery; Philip Kline, leather 
store; L. Molenkophf, book bindery; Welsh & Son, foundery; 
Phoenix House; J. Snyder, wood and coal yard ; D. Thompson, 
livery; James Ewing, livery and feed stable; Hollenhoplier, 
shoe store ; post-office, C. Brown, P. M. ; Dr. H. W. How, oper- 
ative and mechr"iiical dentist. Kaiser's block, second story- 
Jackson Bouser, wagon and carriage shop ; Baker & Son, meat 
shop; A. Fiddler, livery establishment ; Mills & Huffman, fur- 
niture and chairs; D. Montgomery, notions; John Howard, un- 
dertaker; J. F. Cook, architect. 



146 Pioneer Record of Ross County^ Ohio. 

Professional Business Men. 

C. E. Brown, Yan meter & JSTeal, Thomas Kelly, W. A. Gage, 
attorneys at law, Second street; Mayo & Du Hadway, MiltonL*,-^ 
Clark, C. Wm. Gilmore, J. C. Entrikin, Thomas Worthington, 
Beach & Lawrence, J. H. Keith, attorneys, Paint street; Drs. 
Waddle, Scearce and Miesse, C. H. French, Second street ; Dr. J. M. 
"Wiltshire, Fifth street; Dr. J. Miller, Main street; Drs. Hubble, 
G. S. Franklin, Paint street; Judge Saiford, office court house; 
U. S. Claypool, attorney, Londary; Dr. D. A. Miller, Roxabell; 
Samuel L.Wallace, attorney. Second street; McClintick & Smith, 
attorneys, Second street; Minshall & Throckmorton, attorneys. 
Main and Paint streets; Dr. D. V. Grace, veterinary surgeon, 
Union House, Paint street. 

Officers of Ross County. 

Sheriff, John S. Mace; Auditor, Saml. Kendrick; Treasurer, 
Wm. A. Wayland; Recorder, Wm. Briggs; Clerk, P. G. Griffin; 
Probate Judge, Thos. Walke; Prosecuting Attorney, L. T. Neal; 
Commissioners, Saml. Cline, Saml. Nichol, Wesley Claypool. 



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